Lionel Messi was absent from Argentina’s evening training session on Thursday in Miami ahead of their final group-stage game at Copa America.
The defending Copa America champions are already qualified for the quarterfinal stage with a draw against Peru on Saturday enough for them to win the group.
Multiple reports from Argentina suggest that Messi will not play against Peru in order to rest for the quarterfinal on July 4. If Argentina win Group A they’ll face either Ecuador or Mexico in Houston in the next phase.
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On Thursday Messi remained at the team hotel while his teammates trained at Florida International University. The 37-year-old reportedly underwent treatment on his right adductor. A spokesperson for the Argentina Football Federation confirmed to The Athletic that Messi worked with a team physio at the team hotel and focused on kinesiology exercises.
Messi told reporters after Argentina’s 1-0 win over Chile on Tuesday that he had felt “discomfort” in that area of his right leg early in the match.
“It was tight. It wasn’t as loose as it should’ve been,” said Messi. “But I was able to finish the game. We’ll see how it goes.”
Multiple outlets in Argentina reported that Messi had undergone a scan of his right adductor at MetLife Stadium after the victory. He’ll undergo another scan on Friday, according to reports. Messi also told reporters from the stadium mixed zone on Tuesday that had been dealing with a sore throat and fever in recent days.
Messi has had a history of muscle injuries dating back to his best years at FC Barcelona. In 2024 with Inter Miami, Messi missed six games due to muscle injuries. His minutes have been limited in the early part of the Major League Soccer season as Messi has had to juggle league play, international cup competitions and national team duty. His absences from Inter Miami away matches have angered fans in the U.S.
In May Inter Miami head coach Tata Martino rested Messi and teammates Sergio Busquets and Luis Suarez when Miami traveled to Vancouver. It caused a public relations crisis for Vancouver and forced Martino to explain his decision.
“We have two home games after (Vancouver). In evaluating that, we felt it was prudent that (Messi, Suarez, Busquets) not participate in this match. They trained today and they’ll train again on Saturday and they’ll be prepared for what’s coming next week.”
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“We understand the frustration from the fans, especially because of the hope that they have in seeing these players,” Martino added.
The stakes are considerably higher for Messi and Argentina. A sellout crowd is expected at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday night. And while every ticket buyer will want to see Messi play, Argentina’s supporters understand that risks are not prudent at this stage of the tournament.
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