Messi trains alone as Argentina hold first World Cup practice

Key points

• Messi works on ‘specific exercises’ as he recovers from muscle fatigue in his left hamstring before the World Cup.
• Lionel Messi has trained on his own ⁠⁠during Argentina’s first practice session at their base camp in the United States, where the squad has assembled this week for their World Cup preparations.
• The defending ⁠⁠World Cup champions held their first pretournament training in Kansas City, Missouri, on Monday.
• The ⁠⁠Inter Miami captain has been dealing with muscle fatigue in his left hamstring ⁠⁠since May 24 but is expected to be ready for Argentina’s opener against Algeria on June 16 in Kansas City.
• Messi, 38, joined Argentina at their training base and worked on “specific exercises” along with several teammates who are also dealing with fitness concerns.