Muscle fatigue is a common concern for athletes who have demanding playing schedules, especially when they don’t have adequate rest periods. This challenge can become even more significant for athletes of Lionel Messi’s age.
Lionel Messi has missed several matches already, mostly in the US for Inter Miami and also for Argentina, his World Cup-winning side. The 36-year-old was initially a doubt for Praguay, but he was later brought on. It is still not certain that he will play against Peru.
Is Lionel Messi playing against Peru in the World Cup Qualifier?
Lionel Messi’s fitness is still uncertain as Argentina prepares to face Peru in Lima. The forward has been sidelined for a significant portion of games at Inter Miami due to a leg injury and did not start Argentina’s previous 1-0 victory over Paraguay.
However, Messi did make an appearance off the bench in that match and has been participating in training sessions ahead of the game against Peru. This has raised hopes within the Argentine camp that he might be fit to start in the upcoming match on Tuesday. Messi’s availability will depend on his recovery and the team’s assessment of his condition.
Argentina looks to continue its 2026 World Cup qualification quest on Tuesday in Lima. They have won their first three fixtures in the qualifier rounds, and they’ll look to extend their lead against Peru, whom they play next.
Just as was the case before Argentina’s win over Paraguay on Thursday, the world is eagerly awaiting to learn whether Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi will be fit to start the upcoming match. As expected, this was the first question posed to Albiceleste head coach Lionel Scaloni during his pre-match press conference on Monday.
Messi “will start if he’s OK,” he said.
Lionel Messi’s latest injury update
Lionel Messi sustained a muscle injury about a month ago, primarily due to his frequent starts for Inter Miami. On his arrival in the US, the 36-year-old World Cup winner became an inevitable asset to the team. Hence, Tata Martino had to play him game after game, leading to his injury.
On international duty, Messi also missed the game against Bolivia in his last international break and was a doubt for Paraguay. However, he later came on in the game, but the doubt over his fitness has not been completely dispelled as his appearance against Peru remains uncertain.
Speaking on Lionel Messi’s fitness, Scaloni says, “He’s fine, he’s been training. We’ll make the decision tomorrow. If he’s OK, he’ll play, which is what we all want. We’ll talk to him and ask him how he is. It’s a matter of time of how much he can play. If he’s okay, you already know what I think. If he’s fine, he plays. There’s nothing more to say.”
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