According to ESPN Argentina’s Martin Arevalo, ‘Cuti’ Romero is facing a five-to-eight-week recovery period. With the World Cup kickoff just 58 days away, the defender appears likely to return in time to help Argentina defend their title on the world stage.

His availability will, of course, hinge on the success of his rehabilitation. While early indications suggest the injury is straightforward to treat, his return to match fitness will depend entirely on how the knee responds to increased workloads over the coming month.

The primary hurdle remains his lack of competitive rhythm; Tottenham’s season concludes on May 24, while Romero will still be in the thick of his recovery. This absence of match minutes could complicate his integration into the squad for the early stages of the tournament.

Argentina’s injury concerns mount

Romero’s setback adds to a growing list of concerns for Argentina, joining Lautaro Martinez on the training table and raising alarms in Buenos Aires. Despite these high-profile scares, the core of the expected roster remains healthy and active as the summer approaches.

Both players are still projected to feature in the North American-hosted tournament this June. Their presence is vital for manager Lionel Scaloni as Argentina look to navigate a Group Stage featuring Algeria, Austria, and Jordan.

Final preparations before the title defense

Following a string of friendlies against Mauritania and Zambia, Argentina have finalized their remaining warm-up schedule. These final tests will serve as the prelude to their Group Stage debut against Algeria on June 16.

With the countdown officially on, Argentina are gearing up for their return to North American soil. The Albiceleste are aiming for a significantly deeper run than their 1994 appearance in the U.S., where they were famously bounced in the Round of 16.

However, he received bad news on Friday, ahead of Inter’s away match against Como. According to an official statement from the Italian club, medical tests conducted after Martinez felt new physical discomfort revealed a “mild strain in the soleus muscle of his left leg“.

While Inter did not provide a definitive timeline—stating only that his condition would be reassessed in the coming days—early estimates suggest he will be sidelined for approximately 15 days. This timeline rules him out of this Sunday’s Serie A fixture and puts his availability for the second leg of the Coppa Italia semifinals against Cesc Fabregas’ side on April 21 in serious doubt.

Martinez’s previous injury

The situation has caused particular alarm in Argentina as this marks the forward’s second soleus injury in less than two months. Earlier this year, Martinez suffered a similar strain to his left calf during the first leg of the Champions League playoffs against Bodo/Glimt.

That injury was a massive blow to Inter Milan, as the captain was forced to watch from the sidelines while his team was eliminated in the return leg. He subsequently missed five Serie A matches (against Lecce, Genoa, Milan, Atalanta, and Fiorentina) as well as the first leg of the Coppa Italia semifinal.

On the international stage, the injury also prevented him from participating in Argentina’s March friendlies, where Lionel Scaloni’s side secured victories over Mauritania and Zambia.

Where Martinez stands in Scaloni’s consideration

Despite his recent fitness struggles, Martinez remains a cornerstone of Lionel Scaloni’s plans for the 2026 World Cup. However, the recurring nature of these muscle injuries is a growing concern given that the tournament is fast approaching.

Since February 18, Martinez has struggled to maintain any consistent rhythm, missing a total of seven matches for Inter and two for his country. Nevertheless, his overall output this season remains elite. In 36 official appearances for Inter Milan, the srtiker has logged 2,475 minutes, contributing 20 goals and 4 assists, maintaining his status as one of the most clinical strikers.

“The first match will be against Honduras on Saturday, June 6, at Kyle Field in Texas. The second match will be against Iceland on Tuesday, June 9, at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Alabama,” the Argentine National Team announced on its official website.

The Albiceleste previously used Honduras as a springboard for their 2022 World Cup title run, securing a 3-0 win in Miami highlighted by a Messi brace. Their history with Iceland is more competitive; the two sides have met only once—a 1-1 draw during the 2018 World Cup group stage where Messi famously had a penalty saved.

Final test for Argentina

These matches are the last that Lionel Scaloni’s men will face before the start of the 2026 World Cup. In fact, the coach will approach these games with the final 26-player squad list that will compete in North America.

The timing is critical. Just one week after the friendly against Iceland, Argentina open their World Cup title defense against Algeria on June 16 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.

Given the proximity to the tournament opener, Scaloni will likely manage minutes heavily. Fans should expect rotated lineups and limited shifts for key starters as the coaching staff looks to avoid any high-stakes injury setbacks.

Jordan-Hare Stadium to make history

The choice of venues highlights a unique shift toward iconic college football environments. According to The Athletic, the clash against Iceland will mark the first international soccer match hosted at Jordan-Hare Stadium in its 87-year history.

“To have the reigning FIFA World Cup champions choose Auburn as the site of their last match before defending their title represents a tremendous achievement and an incredible opportunity for Auburn Athletics and Auburn University,” Auburn athletics director John Cohen said, according to ESPN.

36 years separated the title Ruggeri celebrated in Mexico from the trophy Messi lifted at Qatar 2022, which gave Argentina their third World Cup star. Now, Messi and company will be looking to go back to back — something Ruggeri almost did in 1990, when Argentina lost to Germany in a controversial final.

The legendary defender, who had 97 international caps, went on to win two Copa America titles (1991, 1993) and a FIFA Confederations Cup in 1992 before retiring from international soccer.

His club career included stints with iconic Argentine teams such as Boca Juniors, River Plate, and San Lorenzo; and most notably, a Real Madrid tenure from 1989-90. Ruggeri also took his talents to Liga MX, playing for Club America from 1992-1993.

Decades later, following an eight-year managerial career and firmly established as a TV analyst and commentator in Argentina, Ruggeri sits down with Bolavip to discuss a wide number of topics.

Ruggeri’s World Cup experience and expectations for 2026

Bolavip: What do World Cup years mean to you? Especially since the 1986 title.

Oscar Ruggeri: Well, special. Special. I walked in here and you guys were around. You didn’t notice, but I didn’t even look at you. I looked at this right here (the World Cup). It’s something… You say “Look at the Cup,” the most beautiful one of all.

When a World Cup starts, with so many teams competing, and (Carlos) Bilardo telling us “look, if we’re not there until the last day it’s a failure,” meaning we had to play the final, and in the final you walk out onto the pitch and the Cup is right there inside, and we couldn’t look at it. We couldn’t touch it, we couldn’t do anything until the match was over.

But World Cup years give me adrenaline, joy… You know, like we start all over again, like we’re just kids. When we head over there, now that we’re going to travel in June, right? When I’m traveling, it’s like I imagine I’m going to play it again. It’s incredible. This is incredible, what these guys are going through right now as well, and with the chance of being serious candidates to repeat, in my opinion.

BV: You recently mentioned that many teams participate. This year, in fact, the World Cup expands to 48 teams. How many changes have you seen in the World Cup from the one you won onwards? Especially in recent years.

Ruggeri: Well, lots of changes in soccer terms, right? For example, we didn’t have VAR, there was nothing. They’d raise the flag, the linesman raised it and it was offside. And if they called you offside, the play was over. That changed a lot. … It also became a huge business, right?

But look, we go around and around and around in terms of number of teams, but it’s always the same ones in the finals, it’s always the same — Argentina, France, Spain, Germany, England, Brazil — it never changes. That’s the reality.

BV: And what does it take to win a World Cup? Many teams participate, only a few manage to win it.

Ruggeri: You need to have a different kind of player, a genius, like the one we have (with Lionel Messi), like the one we had (with Diego Maradona). But that it’s not enough, right? Let me explain. Why isn’t it enough? It’s not enough, because if you don’t have a great team behind those geniuses, who in those tight matches do something different and break the deadlock and you keep going… It just doesn’t work.

“It’s always the same teams in the World Cup finals — Argentina, France, Spain, Germany, England, Brazil — it never changes.”

Because look — Maradona played in four World Cups I think, Messi five (2026 would be his sixth). And we won only two World Cups combined with these two geniuses. So that means the team has a huge responsibility. The team has a great setup, so that these geniuses can function freely.

Argentina’s chances of repeating World Cup title

BV: How do you see the Argentine national team this year? You were just saying you believe they can repeat?

Ruggeri: Yes, yes, I think so. I see them doing well. Do you know what I like? That it’s not just the exact same players from four years ago. There have been replacements and those replacements have played really well.

Honestly, they did it really well in the matches, like Thiago (Almada), like several players, right? And it makes me happy because it means there’s a new generation. Cholo’s son (Giuliano Simeone), who’s doing really well. I still believe that (Angel) Di Maria, in my opinion, they’ll convince him and he’ll end up going to the World Cup.

BV: This year Lionel Messi has the chance to go for back-to-back World Cups. You and Diego came very close to achieving it in 1990. What was it like? How do you experience…

Ruggeri: Well, no, we didn’t “come close,” no… they scammed us. Because it wasn’t a penalty, imagine with the VAR. But you see how quickly I say if we’d had VAR, that German penalty wouldn’t have been given and I don’t know how it would have ended. And if we’d had (Claudio) Cannigia, with everyone fit, I think it would have been a different game.

But then they tell me “What about Diego’s handball?”, right? But what about the goal he scored after that, dribbling past everyone? That’s just how it is.

BV: And from your experience, how do you prepare for a World Cup like that? A World Cup where you go looking to repeat the title, not win it for the first time. It will happen to Messi now.

Ruggeri: Well, it’s like that weight was lifted from them, so now they know what it’s like. And they already know what the final stages are like, everything that’s at stake. In every match you have to get up well because you have to be on point so as not to give any advantage away, because you’re going to face the best, and the best don’t forgive you.

Ruggeri’s 2026 World Cup favorites besides Argentina

BV: Who are the best for you? Who are the other contenders?

Ruggeri: For me, Spain, France, and England — I see very good players in them, I’m not sure about them as a unit — but I’ll still put them in. The Germans. We get frustrated, but somehow, they might not show much early on, and then you see them among the top four. And I think Brazil will improve.

BV: And what do you think about the Finalissima that was canceled against Spain? Do yo think it would have been a good test for Argentina?

Ruggeri: Yes, absolutely. It would have been a good test because they were two of the contenders that the world was going to watch to see what would happen. That Spain team with a midfield that holds the ball a lot and so do we. It would have been beautiful, it would have been great.

“The difference between South American and European soccer? Look, take out all the South American players from European soccer and see what the teams do…”

BV: And one of the things that’s always put to the test at World Cups is South American soccer versus European soccer. How do you see that difference?

Ruggeri: Yes, it’s very simple. Look, take out all the South American players from European soccer and see what the teams do, and bring all the South Americans back. All the Argentines playing over there, bring them to our championship and see if people don’t start watching this league.

And that’s the reality of South American soccer, because Brazilians, Uruguayans, Paraguayans, Colombians, Venezuelans, Bolivians — there’s everything. I think that makes it even richer.

“I think Brazil will improve. When we go there, and Brazil play, you look with respect for the history”

BV: You recently mentioned Brazil. Do you think they can pull off an upset at the World Cup, despite their situation in the qualifiers?

Ruggeri: I don’t know what you’d call upset, to improve?

BV: To improve.

Ruggeri: I think they’ll improve, yes. Then I’m not sure if they will pull off the big upset. But it’s Brazil. When we go there, and Brazil play, you look with respect for the history. History marks what I said at the beginning. You know, those national teams with a lot of history, they throw all of that to you on the pitch.

Messi at 2026 World Cup

BV: Talking about Lionel Messi, we talked about him before for a bit, how do you see him heading into this World Cup?

Ruggeri: Great, great. This might be his last World Cup. He’ll prepare in the best possible way, I have no doubt about that. And he’ll try to do what he did in the last World Cup, to be the the captain, the leader, to carry the group forward, right? It’s another chance he has to lift the Cup.

They’ve already lived it, and being fortunate that, when the World Cups end, they can go in with the family, they can take photos. I saw them at the last World Cup taking photos with their kids, with the Cup right there inside. We couldn’t see each other because we got swarmed and we couldn’t take a photo.

“Messi moving to the US? Possibly that was also a family decision”

BV: In that sense, do you think it’s something that has improved at World Cups?

Ruggeri: Yes, absolutely. Yes, they’ve improved it a lot. I think that’s a sign of respect for those who’ve become world champions, for their families who’ve suffered so much, who’ve had such a hard time. That, honestly, you have to congratulate everyone, FIFA, everyone.

BV: Getting back to Messi, after he won the Qatar World Cup, he decided to play in the United States. What do you think of him spending the last years of his career in that league?

Ruggeri: More than playing in the US, possibly that was also a family decision, right? To step back a little from what Barcelona was, because it makes sense that he can’t go out, he can’t go out that much in the US either because they already know him, everyone knows him…

BV: And in France he didn’t have a great time.

Ruggeri: In France he didn’t have a great time, but, in the United States I see him walking around the supermarket. You can see he walks around more freely, they don’t mob him, you know? I think that’s possibly what he’s looking for.

Comparisons between Messi and Maradona, Ronaldo, Yamal

BV: What do you think about the comparisons that have always been made with Maradona?

Ruggeri: I don’t think we should make them, because they’re both Argentine, because they’re both geniuses. Comparing geniuses is hard, right? Now, if you ask me personally, I played 11 years with Maradona. I can’t be objective. Ask the guys who played with Messi and they’ll say Messi. But that’s normal and understandable.

Now, we, the people, in the streets, people on television, on the shows, we shouldn’t, we shouldn’t pit them against each other, we shouldn’t compare them, because here we, unfortunately, are living in this world of divisions.

“If another genius comes along after Messi and Maradona, then it means God lives here with us.”

So we put it as “no, Maradona, is like this, and Messi like this” and we immediately take sides, why? If they’re both Argentine, both captains of the Argentine national team who became world champions, let’s make the most of both of them, right?

I mean, look, when Diego was leaving, in those last championships we played, the US World Cup, I thought, “oof, now we need another one like him” and another one came along. If then another comes, it means God lives here with us and is giving us a huge hand.

“Ronaldo is a star, a very good player, but he’s not a genius like Messi.”

BV: And Messi not only suffered, so to speak, the comparisons with Maradona on a historical level, but also current comparisons like with Cristiano Ronaldo. What do you think about it?

Ruggeri: Nothing. It wouldn’t even cross my mind to discuss the subject, because there’s a huge difference between the genius we have and the other one, who is a great player. Messi is a genius and Ronaldo is a star. He’s truly a star, a very good player, but he’s not a genius like Messi.

BV: And how do you see Lamine Yamal, who’s also starting to draw comparisons? Especially in Spain.

Ruggeri: Yes, well, he’s a kid who’s just starting out, he’s just beginning. He’s playing well, he needs to come down to earth a bit. He needs to take it a little easy because, I heard him, some statements, saying he was going to be better than Messi. That he was going to win more Ballons d’Or. Why? Do it, once you’ve achieved it, then we’ll say what we see. Right now, he’s not even close to him.

Active Argentine stars

BV: In your position, the Argentine national team today has a key player like Cristian Romero. You played at Real Madrid, do you image him potentially joining that kind of club?

Ruggeri: Yes, for sure. If I were Florentino Pérez — I’d go after him, no doubt about it. He’s a fantastic player, a serious player for the position, who formed a great partnership with (Nicolas) Otamendi. Incredible, right? Because you know, we always talk about the attacking side, the ones who decide things, who create plays, who score the goals, everything. But we don’t talk about the defense, right? We talk, but not that much.

But we also had a defense and a goalkeeper… The goalkeeper (Emiliano Martinez) was incredible. Against France, that save with his foot… I was up there, we were done. If it was (Kylian) Mbappe, we were done, but that’s what it means to have a keeper like that. We have two or three great center-backs and we’re in good shape. I think we are doing pretty well, pretty good.

That’s why I dare say we are contenders again, because this team never stopped playing well, right? People asked me about us, we didn’t play like this team after the World Cup. We didn’t play so well like this team, the way these guys play, they play in a certain way, how they manage the ball. Honestly, it’s a pleasure watching them.

BV: Do you think the performances at clubs is completely separate from how they perform for the national team?

Ruggeri: Yes, absolutely, don’t even doubt it. Remember when it was hard for Argentina to win, to become champions, they were incredible at their clubs and everyone would say “no, but they shine at the club they come to the national team and we don’t win.” I don’t know if you remember.

“We didn’t play like this Argentina team after the World Cup. We didn’t play this well”

At the beginning they said “Messi shines at Barcelona, scores goals left and right. He wins titles, he wins everything, but when he comes to Argentina and nothing”, he even quit the national team. Even Di Maria cried and Di Maria never dropped his guard.

But that’s in the past now. When they get together with the national team, you see freshness, you can see they’re happy, that they’re thrilled to get back together. That’s what I see from the outside. No, I’m not there. I don’t see them personally, but that’s the image they give.

BV: The World Cup could rocket many players’ careers to new heights. It already happened with Enzo Fernandez at the Qatar World Cup…

Ruggeri: Enzo is amazing.

BV: … making the move from Benfica to Chelsea, and now there’s a lot of talk about his future at Chelsea, that he could take yet another step.

Ruggeri: Yes, for sure. How that kid has grown, so calmly, so mature. Captain in England! It’s not easy to wear the captain’s armband, these players we have… That guy is a man, you know? He plays in a simple, clean way.

We have a midfield, we don’t talk about the midfield enough, we have a great midfield too, right? They manage the ball brilliantly, no rush. They play with calm. If it’s not on, they go back. Start again. We are well balanced.

“Julian Alvarez has no ceiling.”

BV: Another player also involved in transfer rumors because of his great level is Julian Alvarez, who is at Atletico Madrid with Simeone…

Ruggeri: I love Julian.

BV: There’s talk that Barcelona want him, or that he could go back to the Premier League, where he already played with Manchester City. What do you think? Should he stay with Simeone?

Ruggeri: I’d like him to stay with “Cholo” (Simeone), because “Cholo” knows him, he knows what the kid is like, the kid has no ceiling and can play anywhere. That’s for sure.

Those are the kind of strikers that as a defender I’d dread facing because you can’t pin him down. He shows up on the right, on the left. You can’t track him like those classic number nines, like (Erling) Haaland who plant themselves there. He’s a goal scorer, but Julian comes from deep. He strikes the ball very well. Did you see his goals?

BV: Yes, he also takes free kicks.

Ruggeri: He takes free kicks. Though I think if there’s a free kick, I don’t think he’ll be getting near the ball with the captain (Messi) around. I think he’ll tell him “go out of there for the rebound,” but it’s another option we have, of course.

BV: Argentina also have Lautaro Martinez, it’s like they have the luck of having top strikers.

Ruggeri: And the strikers who’ve come through now! I honestly didn’t know them. This coaching staff handles even those things very well. Nobody slips past them. When there’s someone who is doing things right, they go watch him and bring him in.

Lionel Scaloni’s job with Argentina

BV: Do you think that has been Lionel Scaloni‘s greatest strength in his process, identifying players? Because he rebuilt the squad after Russia 2018.

Ruggeri: Yes, yes. Because Scaloni came from nowhere when nobody believed in him and he did everything right. He has a coaching staff that knows soccer. They all played for the national team. With a very low profile.

Because look, if I ask you, tell me what (Roberto) Ayala’s voice sounds like, you don’t know. Same for (Walter) Samuel, you don’t know how he talks, he says nothing, (Pablo) Aimar even less. I mean, look at the three I’m naming. Three elite national team players with a very low profile, they’re doing a very good job.

“Scaloni came from nowhere when nobody believed in him”

BV: Yes, there’s a joint effort with Diego Placente (Argentina U20 manager) and the youth teams.

Ruggeri: Everyone, everyone, of course, Placente watches them, he must tell them “Look, there’s a kid like this, who moves this way.” They must work in a similar way. It’s very good, everything is very well put together. We’re in good shape.

WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH OSCAR RUGGERI ON BOLAVIP US:

“Why would Argentina not rely on Messi or Portugal not rely on Cristiano Ronaldo? This is totally normal… In the absence of Harry Kane, we don’t have the same threat,” Tuchel told ITV when asked about the team’s perceived over-reliance on the striker.

England left a poor impression following a 1–1 draw against Uruguay and a surprising 1–0 defeat to Japan. The team’s lack of offensive intensity and a focal point in attack was evident, as its only goal across both matches came via defender Ben White off a corner kick.

Argentina and Portugal prove they can win without Messi and Ronaldo

While Tuchel’s assessment of a team’s dependence on a superstar holds weight, both Argentina and Portugal have demonstrated the ability to secure results without their legendary icons on the pitch. Roberto Martinez’s men proved this during the March FIFA window, securing a 2–0 victory over the USMNT, even though they were later held to a scoreless draw against Mexico.

Argentina have also shown they can thrive without their captain in even higher-stakes environments. Lionel Scaloni’s men managed a 1–0 win over Uruguay without Messi and famously thrashed Brazil 4–1 in March 2025 during the World Cup Qualifiers, proving the depth of the world champions’ squad.

Harry Kane’s monstrous season

Kane’s absence is even more striking when looking at the incredible numbers he has put up so far this season. Across 40 matches in all competitions for Bayern Munich, the English striker has a staggering 48 goals, making him by far the top scorer for both his club and the Bundesliga.

The impact Kane has on any team is immense, and his absence is equally significant. “Bayern Munich in the absence of Harry Kane does not have the same threat. No team in the world has the same threat,” Tuchel concluded in his analysis of the forward’s importance.

So far in 2026, both Messi and Ronaldo are deadlocked with eight goals each. The Inter Miami captain’s tally includes two goals during preseason friendlies, four in MLS play, one in the Concacaf Champions Cup, and his latest international goal for Argentina.

In contrast, all eight of Ronaldo’s goals this year have come in the Saudi Pro League. He has recorded 21 total goals during the 2025-26 season, currently placing him third in the Golden Boot race behind Julian Quiñones and Ivan Toney.

Why didn’t Ronaldo play for Portugal in March friendlies?

There was significant anticipation in Mexico and the United States for Cristiano Ronaldo’s appearance in Portugal’s friendlies in both countries. However, manager Roberto Martinez opted not to call up soccer’s all-time leading scorer as he was in the final stages of recovering from a hamstring injury.

The injury, sustained while playing for Al Nassr, also sidelined the striker for two Saudi Pro League matches, in which his team secured victories over NEOM and Al Khaalej. Now fully recovered, Ronaldo is expected to return to action on Friday, April 3, when Al Nassr host Al Najma.

The race to 1,000 career goals

Ronaldo remains the all-time leading scorer in soccer history, with Messi trailing in second place. Following his goal against Zambia, Messi has reached 902 career goals. Meanwhile, Ronaldo sits at 965 career goals ahead of the Al Najma fixture.

Standing just 35 goals away from the four-digit mark and with his scoring touch firmly intact—having scored four goals in his last three matches—it is highly probable that the Al-Nassr captain will become the first player to reach 1,000 goals this season.

The March FIFA window was a massive success for Les Bleus. France faced two high-caliber opponents and emerged victorious in both, defeating Brazil and Colombia. These wins provided a significant points boost, allowing them to leapfrog both Spain and Argentina in the standings.

Conversely, Luis de la Fuente’s men saw their ranking suffer. While they gained 1.94 points from a dominant 3–0 win over Serbia, the subsequent stalemate against Egypt proved costly, resulting in a loss of 2.73 points and the loss of their throne.

Argentina also enjoyed a perfect record this window, but the caliber of their opposition limited their progress. Lionel Scaloni’s men gained only 0.63 points from a 2–1 victory over Mauritania and 0.86 points from a 5–0 thrashing of Zambia. The Albiceleste, who held the top spot for much of the post-World Cup era, now sit firmly in third.

How each star performed

Mbappe proved to be the catalyst for France’s climb to the top of the FIFA rankings. The Real Madrid forward was in world-class form during the 2–1 victory over Brazil at the Gillette Stadium, where he scored the opening goal and was named Man of the Match, leading Les Bleus through their toughest test of the window.

In Argentina, Messi continued to be the heartbeat of his team during their 5–0 rout of Zambia. The captain provided the assist for Julian Alvarez’s opener before finding the net himself for the second.

In a moment that captured the headlines, Messi waived his chance to score a second from the penalty spot, instead handing the ball to Nicolas Otamendi, allowing the veteran to score in his emotional final appearance for the national team on Argentine soil.

It was a more frustrated window for Yamal and Spain. The Barcelona starlet struggled to make an impact, failing to record a goal or an assist in the 3–0 win over Serbia or the disappointing draw against Egypt.

Beyond the pitch, Yamal made waves by calling out a section of the crowd following controversial chants during the game vs Egypt, marking a difficult end to a window that saw Spain lose their world No. 1 status.

Argentina had left a sour taste in their fans’ mouths after their latest showing against Mauritania. The “Albiceleste” did win, but the 2–1 final score felt too close considering the massive gap in FIFA rankings between the two countries. Against Zambia, Argentina right their wrongs. They didn’t play their best soccer, but they still put five goals past Zambia, treating home fans to a spectacle at La Bombonera.

With a goal and an assist, Messi netted his 902nd goal of his career. He has now scored 116 goals for his national team—extending his lead as the all-time leading goal scorer—and has added Zambia to his victim’s list. There aren’t many countries Messi hasn’t scored on, but he will get his chance to add Austria and Jordan to the list in the upcoming 2026 World Cup, where those countries will share Group J with Argentina (and Algeria).

[Watch Argentina vs Zambia online in the US on Fubo]

Argentina look to build momentum after a 2-1 win over Mauritania as the reigning world champions continue gearing up for their title defense, with Lionel Messi once again at the center of attention.

Up next for the Argentines is Zambia, a non-World Cup qualifier eager to use this matchup as a benchmark against one of CONMEBOL’s top teams—don’t miss this compelling international friendly.

When will the Argentina vs Zambia match be played?

Argentina take on Zambia in a 2026 friendly game this Tuesday, March 31, with the match kicking off at 7:30 PM (ET). Follow our liveblog of Argentina vs Zambia and don’t miss a single thing!

Argentina vs Zambia: Time by State in the USA

ET: 7:30 PM
CT: 6:30 PM
MT: 5:30 PM
PT: 4:30 PM

How to watch Argentina vs Zambia in the USA

This Friendly clash between Argentina and Zambia will be available for viewers in the USA on Fubo. Other options: Fanatiz, beIN SPORTS, beIN SPORTS en Español, beIN SPORTS Connect and ViX.

It was difficult to give a clear answer, but for now, it was a clear no. Messi entered in the second half of that match without a standout performance and did not contribute significantly, but it was hard to draw firm conclusions given it was a friendly. In addition, his presence remains essential for many due to his leadership and the impact he generates on the field, with his talent never in doubt.

Messi no longer has the same physical capacity as before, but a moment of brilliance could still decide any match, which makes him a key piece for Argentina. Scaloni had already mentioned that they must submit a preliminary list of up to 55 players by May 11, followed by the final 26-man roster by May 30. While assembling the preliminary list has not been an issue, Scaloni faces the tougher task of trimming 29 players with the World Cup fewer than 80 days away.

What Scaloni said

When asked about the roster situation during Monday’s press conference, Scaloni offered a candid assessment. “We have already submitted the 55-man list to the AFA, which they will then have to pass on to FIFA. As for the final 26, in terms of percentages, we are over the limit. We will have to start cutting players based on performance.”

Reports had emerged suggesting Scaloni had 21 of the 26 spots already decided, with Messi leading the group. While the coach has not officially confirmed a single name, not even his captain, it is the final five spots that proved the most difficult to settle.

Scaloni also acknowledged that the narrow 2-1 win over Mauritania could factor into his thinking as he worked toward the final roster. “There’s no other way, and the match the other day might have been a warning sign, or just a one-off. But these are things that, as a coach, you take note of. The final decision will be made at the end,” he said.

“What matters most is the team. We will think about the good of the team, and based on that, we will make decisions. I have the list fairly clear in my head, but if performances are not up to par, we will take action,” Scaloni added, sending a clear message that no player’s place was guaranteed and that a dip in form could cost them a spot.

What’s next for Argentina and Messi

Following the disappointing showing against Mauritania, Scaloni confirmed that Messi would start Tuesday’s friendly against Zambia. When asked about his plans, he made it clear he intended to use a full-strength lineup.

“Most of the boys we know well will play tomorrow. I think it’s the final test, and regardless of how the match goes, as the minutes pass, we will make changes and look at more of the boys again. The idea is to field a more familiar team, the one everyone is used to seeing, and see how things turn out.”

“We wanted to compete a bit more. We were waiting until the last minute to see what we were doing, and an opponent was found at the very last second,” Martinez told reporters following the match.

Argentina was originally scheduled to face Spain in a high-profile 2026 Finalissima clash on Friday, March 27. However, the match was canceled after CONMEBOL, UEFA, and the respective federations failed to reach an agreement regarding the venue.

Martinez slams Argentina’s performance

On paper, Argentina—ranked 4th in the world—was expected to dominate Mauritania, currently ranked 115th. While the Albiceleste took an early lead, Martinez did not hold back in his critique of the team’s second-half display.

“The first half was fine; obviously we had to adapt a bit since we hadn’t played together in a while,” Martinez noted. “But the second half was very poor. We lacked intensity and commitment. When we wear this national team jersey, we have to do much better“.

Lionel Scaloni’s squad started the match with a high tempo, dominating the first half with goals from Enzo Fernandez and Nicolas Paz. What looked like an impending blowout, however, shifted in the second half.

As Martinez analyzed, the team’s performance dropped significantly, showing a lack of urgency that allowed Mauritania to gain more control of the ball, that led them to score at the end of the game.

When is Argentina’s next friendly?

Following the 2-1 victory, Argentina will face Zambia this coming Tuesday, March 31, at La Bombonera. The match will serve as the team’s final appearance on home soil before the squad departs for North America to begin the 2026 World Cup.