Argentina captain Lionel Messi is doubtful for Thursday’s World Cup qualifier against Paraguay.
Messi, 36, missed five of the past six games with a hamstring injury before playing 35 minutes off the bench in Inter Miami‘s 1-0 defeat to FC Cincinnati on Saturday.
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“For him, one more training session is important, and I will talk to him to decide whether he plays or not, but I have to talk to him first and above all I have to be sure that he can start,” Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said in Wednesday’s press conference.
Messi scored in last month’s 1-0 win over Ecuador but then missed the 3-0 win at Bolivia due to muscular problems.
“We have another game in four days against Peru and it is not so easy to define if he is available,” Scaloni said.
“He could play 80 minutes against Paraguay and not play against Peru or he could play both games. The important thing is that he feels comfortable. What leaves us calm is that if he is not fit, whoever replaces him will do just as well.”
