Watch: Lionel Messi quells injury fears with stunning penalty in Argentina’s 3-0 win against Iceland

Lionel Messi (Screengrab) Lionel Messi put any lingering concerns about his fitness to rest on Tuesday, marking his return from injury with a goal as Argentina beat Iceland 3-0 in their final warm-up game before the 2026 World Cup.The Argentina captain, who was sidelined on May 24 with muscle fatigue and a minor left hamstring strain while playing for Inter Miami, was not a risk from the start. Instead, head coach Lionel Scaloni introduced the experienced striker in the 70th minute as Argentina looked to complete their World Cup preparations.Just two minutes after coming on, the 38-year-old stepped up to take the penalty after Lautaro Martinez was brought down in the box. Messi showed no signs of discomfort and confidently sent a powerful left foot high into the net to extend Argentina’s lead.Watch:The goal was another milestone for the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, who remains Argentina’s all-time top scorer with 117 international goals. More importantly for the reigning world champions, it provided further proof that their talisman is fit and ready for football’s biggest tournament.The appearance also has added significance as Messi prepares for his sixth FIFA World Cup. The Argentine icon, who turns 39 later this week, continues to play a central role in the national team nearly two decades after his World Cup debut.Argentina head into the tournament aiming to defend the title they won in Qatar in 2022 and claim their fourth World Cup crown overall, having previously triumphed in 1978 and 1986.Their campaign will begin on June 16 against Algeria in Kansas City. Austria and Jordan complete Group J.Tuesday’s win also offered a measure of redemption against Iceland. The two nations last met at the 2018 World Cup when Iceland surprisingly drew 1-1 with Messi missing a penalty. This time, however, the Argentine captain made no mistake from the spot as he completed a successful return in front of football’s biggest stage.