Lionel Messi receives special perk at Argentina's World Cup training camp that no other player has
Lionel Messi has been given a special perk at Argentina's World Cup training base that has not been afforded to any other player.
Eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi is competing in a record-breaking sixth World Cup tournament in North America, hoping to retain the trophy he finally lifted in Qatar in 2022.
Argentina's 26-man squad for the World Cup was announced by Lionel Scaloni on Thursday, with a total of nine players from the triumphant 2022 crop missing out.
Franco Mastantuono, Alejandro Garnacho and Paulo Dybala have all been overlooked for the showpiece by Scaloni, who took his time to make his selections.
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38-year-old Messi is once again the main man for La Albiceleste, who are pinning their hopes of retaining the crown on him.
And it's emerged that Messi is getting preferential treatment in the form of his own room for the tournament.
READ MORE: Argentina announce 26-man World Cup squad as nine previous winners from 2022 miss out
While Argentine are in Kansas City, the Inter Miami talisman is rooming by himself in room 202 - next door to his pal Rodrigo De Paul and Nicolas Otamendi.
Messi's long-time roommate with Argentina was Manchester City legend Sergio Aguero since their youth days but that all changed when he had to retire due to a cardiac issue.
When the 2022 World Cup, Messi chose to room alone and Emiliano Martinez was forced to room with a member of the Argentina coaching staff as a result.
Messi has maintained the same approach this time around, where Argentina have been drawn in Group J alongside Algeria, Austria and Jordan.
The three-time world champions have upcoming friendlies against Honduras and Iceland before they kick off the defence of their crown against Algeria on 16 June in Kansas City.
They return to action on 22 June with a fixture against Austria in Arlington, Texas before concluding the group stage against tournament debutants Jordan on 27 June.
Lionel Messi trains on his own in Argentina's opening World Cup session
Messi gave fans a huge scare for the World Cup when he was substituted in Inter Miami's thrilling 6-4 win over Philadelphia Union in May.
The Barcelona icon was seen clutching his hamstring as he walked down the tunnel and Inter revealed he had asked to be substituted after experiencing with “muscle fatigue in his left hamstring".
Scaloni was happy that reports on Messi's situation were not "too bad" but he and his coaching staff are being cautious over the country's main man.
Messi trained on his own on Monday, away from the rest of the group.
As per ESPN, Messi is expected to be fit for the opener against Algeria.
Emiliano Martinez, Nico Paz, Leandro Paredes, Nico Gonzalez, Thiago Almada, Gonzalo Montiel and Nahuel Molina also did their own specific sessions after fitness issues.
In more positive news, both Julian Alvarez and Cristiano Romero have been declared fit for the warm-up game against Honduras.
Topics: Lionel Messi, Argentina, FIFA World Cup
Josh Lawless