Argentina play down injury concerns over Lionel Messi ahead of World Cup finals… South American side insist he is completing recovery session indoors after failing to turn up with squad for training ground
By Ed Carruthers for Mailonline
Posted: 00:05, 16 December 2022 | Updated: 00:42, December 16, 2022
Injury concerns over Lionel Messi’s fitness were downplayed after the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner did not join the rest of Argentina’s squad in training on Thursday.
The 35-year-old starred as the South American side reached the 2022 World Cup final with a convincing 3-0 win over Croatia on Tuesday night, with the winger breaking the deadlock to score Argentina’s first goal from the penalty spot.
Concerns were raised over his fitness as Messi was seen straining his hamstring in the later stages of the game, but according to Argentinian news agency Clarin, the PSG superstar is fine and ready to play in the final against France.
Concerns have been raised over Lionel Messi’s fitness after he appeared to clutch his thigh against Croatia
Messi was also not seen training with the Argentina squad on Thursday, raising concerns
Photographers flocked to snap pictures of Lionel Scaloni’s side as they prepared for their mouth-watering World Cup final against France on Sunday, but their number 10 was nowhere to be seen.
And according to Clarin, Messi was inside completing a recovery session alongside Papu Gomez, Lautaro Martinez and other players who started on Tuesday.
Messi was a key figure for Argentina during the World Cup, winning four player of the match awards from the six games he featured in, while returning four goals and three assists to help his national team reach the final.
But sources say the 35-year-old is fine and is completing a rehab session
Lionel Scaloni’s side (right) will play France in the 2022 World Cup final on Sunday
He confirmed earlier this week that this would be his final World Cup, with the 35-year-old backed by his teammates to lead the team out on Sunday night.
And while the injury news coming out of the Argentina camp for Messi is promising, doubts still linger over Gomez’s fitness after he rolled his ankle during Argentina’s opening World Cup game against Australia.
Questions also remain over the fitness of Angel Di Maria, who is suffering from a soft tissue injury, which is why Scaloni decided not to use him during the semi-final.
Sergio Aguero was also seen at the training camp, helping Argentina prepare for France
Retired star Sergio Aguero was also seen at Qatar University’s training facility today helping his team prepare for the final and was seen slotting a wonder goal into the net.
The former Manchester City star, now 34, has been in the camp for much of the tournament and was even seen getting into a heated confrontation after their quarter-final win over the Netherlands.
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