USA: Lionel Messi will miss Argentina’s final Copa America group game against Peru after complaining of muscle tightness, team officials said on Friday.
Assistant coach Walter Samuel told a press conference that the Inter Miami superstar was “day-by-day” following an injury to his right adductor muscle.
“Leo had a problem in the last game, he won’t be there for this game,” Samuel said.
“We are going to go day-by-day waiting for its evolution.”
Messi hurt his leg in Argentina’s 1-0 victory over Chile on Tuesday that clinched a quarterfinal berth for the defending champions. The Argentina superstar received treatment on his right thigh area after getting kicked by Chile defender Gabriel Suazo in the 24th minute, but he remained in the game.
Argentina assistant coach Walter Samuel said Friday that the team will go “day to day” with Messi’s injury and monitor how it progresses.
Messi has battled injuries since joining Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami last season, and Miami head coach Tata Martino and the team have been tasked with prioritizing his health amid a packed schedule. The 37-year-old Messi missed six matches at the end of his first MLS season because of a leg injury and missed a handful of games at the beginning of this season because of a hamstring injury.
Samuel, meanwhile, played down the impact of Messi’s absence on the rest of the team.
“The team has always proven to be up to the task before when he wasn’t there,” said Samuel, hinting that veteran Angel Di Maria may start in place of Messi.
Argentina have already booked their place in the quarter-finals after wins against Canada and Chile in their opening two matches.
A draw in Saturday’s game against Peru at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami will guarantee Argentina qualify for the last eight as group winners.
Argentina is expected to rest several first-choice players against Peru, although Samuel insisted on Friday the world champions would seek a win.
“Peru has top players; we are taking this game with the utmost seriousness,” said Samuel, who will be in charge on the bench with coach Lionel Scaloni serving a one-game suspension.
Scaloni and Argentina were sanctioned after the team were late to emerge for the second half in their games against Chile and Canada.
Samuel said Scaloni was “a little bitter” about the suspension.
“We consider ourselves a correct coaching staff and in all these years we’ve never had these kind of sanctions,” Samuel said.
