Lionel Messi isn’t letting a leg injury slow him down and will participate in Argentina’s Copa America semifinal against Canada on Tuesday night.
Messi has been managing a right leg issue since Argentina’s group stage victory over Chile on June 25. Although he sat out the final group match, he played the entire quarterfinal match against Ecuador last Thursday.
“Leo is doing well. He will play tomorrow,” stated Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni on Monday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
At 37 years old, Messi has scored 13 goals in Copa America, trailing the record held jointly by Argentina’s Norberto Méndez and Brazil’s Zizinho by four goals, but he has yet to score in this year’s tournament.
“For me, it’s a straightforward decision,” Scaloni remarked. “It’s a very honest decision: I ask him how he’s feeling. If he says ‘I’m not feeling good,’ then he will play the last 30 minutes. When he’s fit to play, he will play.”
Argentina, aiming for a record 16th Copa America title, defeated Canada 2-0 in their tournament opener on June 20, with Messi assisting on second-half goals by Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez.
“We didn’t handle Messi well enough in our last match. He had too much freedom to attack our goalkeeper,” commented Jesse Marsch, the American who took over as Canada’s coach in May. “We all recognize that he’s the greatest player to ever grace the game.”
Argentina outshot Canada 19-10, including 9-2 on target, and controlled 64% of possession.
“It’s more advantageous for us to have had the experience of playing against them than it is for them to have played against us,” Marsch added.
Both teams advanced to the semifinals after winning their quarterfinal matches on penalty kicks. Canada, as a guest from North America, defeated Venezuela.
In the other semifinal, Uruguay will face Colombia on Wednesday night in Charlotte, North Carolina. The final will take place on Sunday in Miami Gardens, Florida.
