Lionel Messi’s status is up in the air for Argentina’s Copa América group play match against Peru on Saturday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Messi's status against Peru is in doubt after he experienced some discomfort in his right groin/adductor area, during Argentina’s 1-0 win over Chile last Tuesday.
An official word on Messi’s status could come Friday when Argentine coach Lionel Scaloni holds a pre-match press conference.
The Argentina vs. Peru match at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida begins at 8 p.m. ET (9 p.m. in Argentina). It will be broadcast by FS1 in English, and Univision/TUDN in Spanish.
Messi hoped his injury was "nothing serious" when speaking to media after playing the entirety of Argentina’s win against Chile. He also said he was dealing with a sore throat and fever during the club’s first week of Copa América action.
Argentine fans have flooded the streets of downtown Atlanta and New York City, and camped outside the national team’s hotels for the first two matches, including Messi’s 37th birthday last Monday. Fans traveling to Miami will likely do the same, but might be disappointed if Messi does not play against Peru on Saturday.
Argentina and Messi, who has dealt with this right groin issue at least twice in the past year, can afford his absence against Peru on Saturday. The match is virtually inconsequential.
Argentina has already advanced to the Copa América quarterfinals after wins over Chile and Canada (2-0 on June 20).
The defending World Cup and Copa América champions have six points in Group A − ahead of Canada (three), Chile and Peru (one point each) − clearing the way for them to advance before their final match in group play Saturday.
Argentina will play on July 4 at Houston’s NRG Stadium, but the opponent − the second-place club from Group B − hasn’t been decided yet.
It will be decided when Ecuador and Mexico, each with three points behind first place Venezuela (six points), play on Sunday at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
During Messi’s tenure with MLS club Inter Miami, the team has favored rest and rehabilitation to restore his health.
Messi missed six Inter Miami games at the end of last season when he suffered the same injury, and he did not play a preseason match in Hong Kong earlier this year for the same reason.
If Messi sits out against Peru, he will have nine days to rest before the July 4 quarterfinal.
Will it be enough time for Messi? We’ll see.
∎June 29: Argentina vs. Peru, Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
∎July 4: Argentina vs. Ecuador/Mexico, NRG Stadium in Houston.
∎July 9: If Argentina advances to the Copa América semifinal, it would play at MetLife Stadium again.
∎July 13: The Copa América third-place game will be held at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.
∎July 14: The Copa América final will be held at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
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