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Argentina vs Iceland: The Emotional Shift and Messi's Return

Friday, June 12, 2026
5 min read
Argentina vs Iceland: The Emotional Shift and Messi's Return

The game against Iceland wasn't exactly a showcase for anything spectacular, really. It felt more like an early warm-up a kind of test run, you know?

But what happened on that Tuesday, though, was definitely something.

Argentina managed to pull off a convincing 3-0 win over Iceland in that final warm-up match. And the real story wasn’t just the scoreline; it was watching things shift on the pitch as they went.

You had that sense of vulnerability hanging around them initially. Messi, still nursing that muscle fatigue and hamstring strain from earlier in the season the stuff that kept him sidelined was sitting on the bench. It made you wonder about his readiness for whatever came next.

Then there was that early warning. Mikael Egill Ellertsson just completely missed an opportunity when it mattered most, squandering a clear chance against Iceland right at the start. The South Americans didn't let that slide. They quickly found themselves ahead, taking the lead via Valentín Barco after some messy scrambling inside the Icelandic penalty area.

Despite Argentina controlling the ball for long stretches, they just couldn’t push it further before the break. Nico Paz missed something promising there. And Iceland’s goalkeeper, Elias Olafsson, pulled off a crucial save to keep their side in the fight. Just grinding things out, almost.

But then everything changed later on. Scaloni brought in some fresh energy after halftime. Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister, Lautaro Martinez they were all involved. Even Lautaro got close to scoring twice, hitting the woodwork both times. Frustrating, maybe?

The real moment, the one that pulled everyone’s focus, came in the 70th minute. Lionel Messi finally entered the game. Thirty-nine years old, and he immediately started influencing things. He was moving the play, creating space, stretching out the Icelandic defense just by being there.

And then it happened. Moments later, Lautaro Martínez got played through inside the box, giving Argentina that chance to double their advantage. Messi stepped up. Calmly. He converted. His 117th goal for Argentina. It felt like a release. The first one since he’d been sidelined with that injury.

The captain really did his part too. Rodrigo De Paul and Thiago Almada combined efforts, helping seal that third goal for the team.

It was an encouraging sign, I suppose. A necessary boost as they gear up to defend that World Cup title they won back in '22. Now they face Algeria on June 16th, then Austria, Jordan. The campaign starts now.

Written by Gree News Team — Senior Editorial Board

Gree News Team covers international news and global affairs at Gree News. Our collective of senior editors is dedicated to providing independent, accurate, and responsible journalism for a global audience.

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