- Lionel Messi will not play in Argentina’s final Copa America group game against Peru due to muscle tightness.
- Assistant coach Walter Samuel confirmed that Messi is dealing with a right adductor muscle injury and will be assessed daily.
- Despite Messi’s absence, Samuel remains confident in the team’s ability to perform well and hinted that Angel Di Maria might start in his place.
Lionel Messi will be absent from Argentina’s last group stage match in the Copa America against Peru after experiencing muscle tightness, team officials announced on Friday. The superstar from Inter Miami is dealing with an injury to his right adductor muscle, as confirmed by assistant coach Walter Samuel.
“Leo had a problem in the last game, he won’t be there for this game,” Samuel stated at a press conference. “We are going to go day-by-day waiting for its evolution.”
Despite Messi’s absence, Samuel expressed confidence in the team’s resilience. He noted that the squad has demonstrated their ability to perform well without Messi in the past. Samuel suggested that veteran forward Angel Di Maria might step in to fill Messi’s role.
Argentina has already secured their spot in the quarter-finals after securing victories over Canada and Chile in their first two matches. As they head into their final group game against Peru, the team remains focused on maintaining their strong performance despite the setback of losing their key player.
