Argentina is, once again, storming past a major international tournament, reaching the semifinals of the Copa America. But this time, it’s been a strange experience for the fans as their captain, Lionel Messi, is not firing like he is used to. Just like his nemesis Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi hasn’t opened his account in the competition and even went on to miss a penalty in the quarterfinals. But, with the maestro suffering repeated injuries in the last few months, the supporters are now anxious as important games are coming up.  However, a positive update concerning the star’s injury is up ahead of their clash against Canada.

According to senior journalist, Leo Paradizo, the Argentine captain is expected to be in a better condition than he was against Ecuador. Taking to his X (previously Twitter) Paradizo wrote, “Leo Messi continues with his evolution, and on Tuesday he will arrive in better conditions than against Ecuador. The 10 is preparing for the semifinal. This is what we told.” Messi had an injury to his right adductor during the second game of the group stages against Chile.

Despite the discomfort in his hamstring during the game Messi, still played the ninety minutes of the game. Later he stated that it wasn’t a tear but stiffness in movement. Subsequently, the player chose to drop off for the last group game against Peru. Subsequently, the player made a comeback against Ecuador, but things got a bit nervous for the fans after Messi’s words post-game.

The 8-time Ballon d’Or winner stated that he was afraid of coming into the quarterfinal. He reportedly stated that he came into the game “with a lot of uncertainty, with lots of fear when I was training,” but felt good during the match claimed Leo. However, will he translate it into good performances?

Is Lionel Messi’s Copa America spell a concern?

It is true that the Inter Miami captain has been facing injury issues for one year. He first had a problem with a scar tissue injury in October last year followed by a hamstring injury before the 2024 season. However, looking at his performances in Copa America, fans are concerned about his future. However, despite not scoring a goal this tournament, Argetnina’s #10 has an assist and also created 7 big chances, proving he still has some time left in international soccer.

The player’s hunger was also evident when La Pulga expressed anger over missing the Panenka penalty in the last game’s shootouts. Nevertheless, with reports suggesting him to be in a better condition, Argentina will hope to have a smoother flow in the semifinals against a formidable Canadian side. The team’s youngsters like Lautaro Martinez, Alexis Mac Allister, and others displayed their mettle by winning without Messi’s presence. But will they repeat the same against Canada on the 9th? Let us know in the comments.