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Lionel Messi has already made headlines at the 2026 World Cup.

The Argentine captain needed only 76 minutes in this summer’s tournament to complete a stunning hat-trick in Argentina’s opening Group J match against Algeria.

However, just four minutes after scoring his third goal, manager Lionel Scaloni decided to substitute his star forward, sparking concerns among fans and pundits alike.

The decision was particularly worrying for La Albiceleste supporters, given Messi’s fitness issues leading up to the competition.

Only a few weeks earlier, Messi had been substituted during an Inter Miami match after appearing to clutch his leg. His club later revealed the problem was due to 'muscle fatigue'.

At that time, the veteran forward had not officially confirmed his participation in the World Cup, but he eventually made the squad and featured prominently for Argentina.

Fortunately for fans, Messi’s substitution against Algeria does not appear to have been injury-related.

Since his early exit in that May fixture for Inter Miami, Messi has been gradually returning to full match fitness. He was named on the bench for a friendly against Honduras and played for 20 minutes in another warm-up match against Iceland.

That playing time significantly increased when he logged 80 minutes against Algeria, a strong indicator that his workload is being carefully managed and that his fitness levels are improving.

This approach suggests that following a period of discomfort last month, both Messi and Scaloni are taking a cautious route to preserve the 39-year-old’s condition as the tournament progresses.

Messi, who celebrates his 39th birthday during this World Cup, has made it clear that this will likely be his final appearance on the biggest stage in football.

Having lifted his first-ever World Cup trophy in Qatar in 2022, the Argentine legend is now aiming to secure a second title this summer.

Only 20 players in history have managed to win the World Cup twice, with Brazilian great Pele standing alone as the only player to have achieved the feat three times.