Lionel Messi did not participate in training with the rest of the Argentina squad on Thursday, but there is nothing to fear as the 35-year-old completes an indoor recovery session with the players who started Tuesday’s victory over Croatia in the semi-finals.
Hundreds of photographers showed up at Argentina’s training base in Qatar University while about 13 players were tested in the sultry evening heat in Doha.
But Messi was not among them, nor did he join the six starters who watched the session from the sidelines, raising concerns that he may have suffered a thigh injury after straining his left hamstring during the game against Croatia.
But according to the Argentine newspaper Clarinthe seven-time Ballon d’Or winner has no injuries ahead of Sunday’s final and his left hamstring is fine.
Along with the rest of Tuesday’s starting eleven – as well as Papu Gomez and Lautaro Martinez – Messi was indoors doing recovery work in the gym, while the entire squad had been given Wednesday off.
Messi is expected to be back on the training pitches on Friday to do ballwork and Argentina are unconcerned about taking part in Sunday’s showpiece at Lusail Stadium.
As things stand, Gomez is Argentina’s only questionable injury after rolling his ankle against Australia in the last 16, while Angel Di Maria has declared himself fit enough to start.
That gives manager Lionel Scaloni a host of options to choose from before the match, either sticking with the XI that beat Croatia (in a 4-4-2 form with Leandro Paredes in midfield), switching to a 5-3- 2 (with Lisandro Martinez starting) or heading to 4-3-3 with Angel Di Maria on the right wing.
Marcos Acuna was suspended for the semi-finals on Tuesday, but took part in training on Thursday and is expected to return to the starting eleven in place of Nicolas Tagliafico.
During Thursday’s session, Sergio Agüero also joined the team and was joined in the dug-out by six starters to watch the rest of the team train: Tagliafico, Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Paredes, Nicolas Otamendi and Julian Alvarez.
Aguero – who was part of the Copa America-winning squad before a heart problem forced him to retire – played the role of a cheerleader during the World Cup and took part in a barbecue with the squad on their day off.
The mood is said to be extremely high in the camp at the moment and that was further boosted when Giovani Lo Celso – who missed the tournament through injury – also landed in Qatar to join his teammates.
France, meanwhile, has been hit by a cold virus streaming through their squad, but both Adrien Rabiot and Dayot Upamecano – who missed Wednesday’s victory over Morocco and were forced to isolate – returned to training on Thursday.
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