Messi's Fitness Fiasco: Argentina's World Cup Hopes Hanging by a Thread

Lionel Messi is training alone, and Argentina's entire World Cup title defence is built around a 38-year-old player who's clearly not 100% fit. The news that Messi is working on 'specific exercises' to manage muscle fatigue in his left hamstring is a major concern for fans of the Albiceleste.

But is Argentina being honest with us? The plan is to 'rest, carefully rehabilitate, gradually increase workloads, and be patient' - but can they afford to take that risk with their star player just a week before the World Cup kicks off? And what about the friendlies against Honduras and Iceland? Messi won't feature in those, which begs the question: is he actually fit to start against Algeria on June 16?

Meanwhile, the World Cup is just around the corner, and other teams are gearing up for the tournament. Wales, for example, are dealing with their own travel chaos ahead of their Women's World Cup qualifier against Montenegro. And then there's the issue of World Cup ticket prices - are we looking at empty seats in the biggest tournament on earth?

Looking at the recent club matches, we saw some exciting action in the Serie A and J1 League. Flamengo thrashed Coritiba 3-0, while Vissel Kobe demolished Kashima 5-0. But let's be real, all eyes are on the World Cup right now. Can Argentina nurse Messi back to full fitness in time, or will their title defence crumble under the pressure?

And what about the other teams? Who are the record holders in World Cup history? BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team has got the lowdown. One thing's for sure - this World Cup is shaping up to be one for the ages. But for Argentina, it all hinges on one man: Messi.