Lionel Messi injury scare played down after he didn’t train with Argentina squad on Thursday

Injury concerns over Lionel Messi’s fitness have been played down, after the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner did not join the rest of the Argentina squad in training on Thursday. 

The 35-year-old starred as the South American side progressed to the final of the 2022 World Cup 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 clutching his hamstring in the later stages of the game, but according to Argentine news agency Clarin, the PSG superstar has no issues and is ready to play in the final against France. 

Messi was also not seen training with the Argentina squad on Thursday prompting concerns

Photographers gathered to take pictures of Lionel Scaloni’s side as they prepared for their mouthwatering World Cup final match against France on Sunday, but their No 10 was nowhere to be seen. 

And according to Clarin, Messi was inside completing a recovery session, along with Papu Gomez, Lautaro Martinez and other players who started on Tuesday.   

Messi has been a key figure for Argentina during the World Cup, picking up four man of the match awards from the six games he’s played in, while returning four goals and three assists to help his national side reach the final. 

But according to sources the 35-year-old has no issues and was completing a recovery session

Lionel Scaloni’s (right) squad will play against France in the 2022 World Cup final on Sunday

Earlier this week, he confirmed that this will be his final World Cup, with the 35-year-old being backed by his teammates to lead the side out on Sunday night. 

And while the injury news coming out of the Argentina camp for Messi is promising, doubts still hang over Gomez’s fitness, after he rolled his ankle during Argentina’s opening World Cup game against Australia.

Questions still also hang over the fitness of Angel di Maria, who has been suffering with a soft tissue injury that saw Scaloni chose not to use him during their semi-final. 

Sergio Aguero was also seen at the training camp, helping Argentina prepare for France

Retired star Sergio Aguero was also seen at the Qatar University training base today, helping his side prepare for their final and was seen drilling a wonder goal into the back of the net. 

The former Manchester City star, now 34, has been around the camp for large parts of the tournament, and was even seen getting into a heated confrontation after their quarter-final win over Holland.