KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Lionel Messi is progressing well in his recovery from a recent muscle issue and could see limited action in Argentina's final pre-World Cup friendlies, coach Lionel Scaloni said Friday, easing concerns about the captain's readiness for the defending champions' title defense.

The 38-year-old superstar suffered muscle fatigue in his left hamstring while playing for Inter Miami CF in a 6-4 Major League Soccer victory over the Philadelphia Union on May 24. He was substituted in the 73rd minute as a precaution, prompting global attention given his central role in Argentina's campaign.

"Leo is doing well, he's already trained with the group for part of the session, and that's significant. He's no longer training separately," Scaloni told reporters ahead of Saturday's friendly against Honduras in College Station, Texas.

Scaloni added that Messi "is improving a lot and could even take part in one of the warm-up matches for a few minutes. We'll see whether it's this one or the next, but he's much better and that gives us peace of mind."

Argentina, winners in Qatar in 2022, faces Honduras on Saturday at Kyle Field and Iceland on Tuesday in Alabama. The team opens Group J play against Algeria on June 16, followed by matches versus Austria and Jordan.

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