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Lionel Messi came off the bench to score within minutes of his return from a hamstring injury as Argentina defeated Iceland 3‑0 in their final pre‑World Cup friendly in Auburn, Alabama. Messi, who had been sidelined since May 24, played a 20‑minute cameo, scoring his 117th international goal and assisting another. Valentin Barco opened the scoring, and Thiago Almada completed the win. Argentina begin their World Cup defence against Algeria on June 16.
Key Points:
Messi’s sharp cameo allays fears over his fitness for Argentina’s title defence.
Barco’s early goal shows depth beyond the star attacker.
A clean sheet boosts defensive confidence before the Algeria opener.
Messi now has 199 caps, with his 200th likely during the tournament.
The win extends Argentina’s unbeaten run in friendlies.
Argentina will now finalise preparations for their June 16 Group J opener against Algeria, with Messi expected to start.
Sources: Soccernet, Complete Sports, Social Media
