• Lionel Messi plays the ball during training with his Argentina teammates. Ricardo Mazalan / AP Photo
    Lionel Messi plays the ball during training with his Argentina teammates. Ricardo Mazalan / AP Photo
  • Lionel Messi, right, and his teammates during the last training session before their first game of World Cup 2018 against Iceland. Albert Gea / Reuters
    Lionel Messi, right, and his teammates during the last training session before their first game of World Cup 2018 against Iceland. Albert Gea / Reuters
  • From right to left, Sergio Aguero, Nicolas Tagliafico, Javier Mascherano and Ever Banega jog during training. Ricardo Mazalan / AP Photo
    From right to left, Sergio Aguero, Nicolas Tagliafico, Javier Mascherano and Ever Banega jog during training. Ricardo Mazalan / AP Photo
  • Javier Mascherano fights for the ball with Federico Fazio during training. Gabriel Rossi / Getty Images
    Javier Mascherano fights for the ball with Federico Fazio during training. Gabriel Rossi / Getty Images
  • Lionel Messi, centre, takes part in training. Gabriel Rossi / Getty Images
    Lionel Messi, centre, takes part in training. Gabriel Rossi / Getty Images
  • Argentina's players take part in a passing drill. Gabriel Rossi / Getty Images
    Argentina's players take part in a passing drill. Gabriel Rossi / Getty Images
  • Cristian Pavon in action in training. Gabriel Rossi / Getty Images
    Cristian Pavon in action in training. Gabriel Rossi / Getty Images
  • Maximiliano Meza takes part in a passing drill. Gabriel Rossi / Getty Images
    Maximiliano Meza takes part in a passing drill. Gabriel Rossi / Getty Images
  • Argentina manager Jorge Sampaoli deep in thought. Juan Mabromata / AFP
    Argentina manager Jorge Sampaoli deep in thought. Juan Mabromata / AFP
  • Angel Di Maria, second right, and forward Paulo Dybala tussle for the ball. Juan Mabromata / AFP
    Angel Di Maria, second right, and forward Paulo Dybala tussle for the ball. Juan Mabromata / AFP
  • Argentina's Angel Di Maria attends training. Albert Gea / Reuters
    Argentina's Angel Di Maria attends training. Albert Gea / Reuters
  • Goalkeepers Franco Armani, Wilfredo Caballero and Nahuel Guzman take part in training. Juan Mabromata / AFP
    Goalkeepers Franco Armani, Wilfredo Caballero and Nahuel Guzman take part in training. Juan Mabromata / AFP
  • Argentina players take part in a training drill. Juan Mabromata / AFP
    Argentina players take part in a training drill. Juan Mabromata / AFP

Football

Lionel Messi and Argentina train ahead of Iceland World Cup clash - in pictures

Last preparations complete for the two-time world champions as they start their challenge in Group D on Saturday

The National

June 15, 2018

  • English
  • Arabic

Lionel Messi and his Argentina teammates have completed their final preparations before they start their World Cup campaign.

They took part in a training session on Friday ahead of their first game in Group D on Saturday against Iceland, which kicks off at 5pm UAE time.

Messi has never won the World Cup and you have to go back to 1986 for the last time Argentina lifted the trophy.

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