Despite winning over Chile, Lionel Messi’s squad may have disappointed supporters that travelled from city to city to witness him play in Copa América 2024.
Argentina advanced to the Copa America quarterfinals with a 1-0 victory over Chile at MetLife Stadium on Tuesday night, despite Messi’s scoreless performance in the second group play match.Despite having chances, the 37-year-old failed to score in his second consecutive Copa America encounter.
However, the most significant moment of the Chilean game occurred in the 25th minute, when Messi was seen receiving massages from a trainer in his right groyne and adductor area.
Messi finished the game, but according to Argentine news outlet TYCSports, he will have his injury evaluated by medical authorities and may not play in Argentina’s third group play match against Peru on Saturday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, where he has lived for the past year.
The first time I played, I developed a hard adductor. “I didn’t feel ripped or punctured, but it was difficult for me to walk around freely,” Messi said in a post-game mixed zone interview.
Messi addressed the reporters once more, adding, “I hope it’s nothing serious, because I was able to [finish the match].”
It would be awful if the biggest player in soccer, who plays for Major League Soccer team Inter Miami, couldn’t represent his new hometown in a Copa America…
Argentina enjoyed a fantastic victory. After two games in Group A, they have six points and are guaranteed a berth in the quarterfinals. Argentina can afford to be careful because Chile and Peru are at the bottom of the group, each with one point, while Canada is second with three points. They can exploit the Peruvian game to allow other players to compete while also providing much-needed recuperation for Messi over the final stretch.
Messi does not have to be coerced or forced to play. Messi, a strong competitor, naturally wants to play in every game.
But Messi’s health is critical, not just for Argentina’s chances of winning the Copa América.However, for Inter Miami, after the competitionAnd there is a tremendous push for football in the United States, with the World Cup in 2026 only two years away.
After the game, Argentine coach Lionel Scaloni stated that he had no conversation with Messi. He did, however, raise two concerns regarding Messi’s health: his completion of the game and a breakaway run he made in the last minutes as Argentina attempted to score a second goal after Lautaro Martinez’s game-winning goal.
Then Scaloni says something that Messi fans may find upsetting: whether or not he’s healthy. Argentina can utilise the Peru match as an opportunity to start younger bench players and earn valuable Copa America experience.
Scaloni responded: “We are happy, and we can enjoy the days and give the youngest ones minutes.” “I believe it is appropriate for the players who were not given minutes to enter the pitch.”
Messi missed six games towards the end of the previous Inter Miami season, as well as a preseason game in Hong Kong earlier this year, due to a similar injury. He also lost time early in the MLS season due to a hamstring injury.
Messi has learned that rest and recuperation are the best remedies for injuries. However, time may not be on his side for the Copa America.
