Lionel Messi trains alone ahead of Argentina’s opening match
Argentina could be without their biggest star, Lionel Messi, for their opening match of the Copa America Centenario against Chile on Monday.
When the Copa America Centenario was announced, most fans across the United States were looking forward to being able to watch Barcelona’s South American star trio representing their respective countries live. However, the possibility of Luis Suarez, Neymar and Lionel Messi all missing out on the historic tournament is becoming very real.
It was already confirmed that Neymar would not be playing for Brazil in the United States this summer, as he has decided to play for his country at the Rio Olympics instead. With the disappointment of the 2014 World Cup still fresh in the minds of most Brazilians, Neymar would like to get some redemption by winning an Olympic gold medal on home soil.
Luis Suarez suffered a hamstring injury in the final match of the season for Barcelona in the Copa del Rey triumph against Sevilla. The Blaugrana completed the Spanish double, but Suarez suffered an injury which will keep him out of Uruguay’s opening match of the Copa America Centenario against Mexico on Sunday night. Nothing has been confirmed, but he could very well miss the entire tournament.
Suarez and Neymar are not the only two who could be missing out on the biggest international soccer tournament to take place in the United States since the 1994 World Cup though, as it has been revealed that Lionel Messi has been training by himself.
#CopaAmerica Trabajo diferenciado para #Messi, quien se recupera de un golpe en la espalda y costillas. pic.twitter.com/wotH99kVvA
— 🇦🇷 Selección Argentina ⭐⭐⭐ (@Argentina) June 4, 2016
The Argentine Football Federation released the news that Messi has been training solo, but it remains to be seen whether he will be able to participate in the country’s opening match against Chile on Monday evening.
Whether Messi will be able to compete on Monday night or not though, the match should be a thoroughly entertaining contest for all soccer fans. It is a rematch of last year’s Copa America final, and kicks off from Levi’s Stadium at 10 pm ET.
For more coverage of the Copa America, check out our soccer hub page.