The Argentine star finished the game against Chile with muscle complaints and will miss the third round of the Copa América group stage as a precaution.
After finishing the game between Argentina and Chile with muscle complaints, Lionel Messi will miss the third-round match of the Copa América group stage against Peru (Sunday at 1:00 AM) as a precaution.
The information comes from Marca, which reports that the Argentine star, after missing the “albiceleste” team's training on Thursday, was evaluated by the medical staff. They ruled out any injury, detecting only a muscle contraction that will not prevent "La Pulga" from resuming training this Friday.
Even so, the team led by Lionel Scaloni has decided not to take any risks, with the 37-year-old forward being left out for the game against Peru, in which Argentina will try to secure first place in Group A of the Copa América, having already guaranteed qualification for the quarterfinals.
"The [adductor] muscle got a bit tight, and I couldn't move freely; it bothered me a little, but I was able to finish the game. The discomfort started at the beginning, in one of the first plays. I didn't feel a sharp pain or a tear, just that it got tight. It was hard for me to move freely," expressed the Argentine star after playing the full 90 minutes against Chile.
Argentina won against Canada (2-0) and Chile (1-0) in the first two rounds of the Copa América, leading Group A alone with a three-point advantage over the Canadians and a five-point lead over both the Chileans and the Peruvians.
With these victories, Argentina has shown strong form in the tournament, and even without Messi for the upcoming match, they are expected to maintain their momentum. The decision to rest Messi is seen as a strategic move to ensure he is fully fit for the more crucial knockout stages.
Argentina's depth in talent means that they have capable players to fill in for Messi's absence. Coach Scaloni will likely rotate the squad to keep other key players fresh while giving opportunities to those who have had less playing time. The team’s focus will be on maintaining their top spot in the group and carrying their winning form into the quarterfinals.
The fans and analysts are keenly observing how Argentina will perform without their talisman, as this will test the team's overall resilience and adaptability. Messi's return in the knockout stages, fully rested and recovered, could be a significant boost for Argentina as they aim for the Copa América title.
