- ABC News
- June 26, 2024
Lionel Messi said he hoped his injury scare was "nothing serious" after receiving treatment for a right thigh problem during Argentina's hard-fought 1-0 Copa América win over Chile on Tuesday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Holders Argentina qualified for the quarterfinals with their second win of the tournament, thanks to substitute Lautaro Martínez's 88th minute goal. However, the result was tighter than the world champions would have liked, and captain Messi needed treatment from physios during the first half. "It's bothering me a bit, but I was able to finish the match," Messi said, speaking in the postmatch mixed zone. "I hope it's nothing serious. It was hard for me to move freely. Tomorrow we'll see how I feel." Messi still delivered an impressive performance, hitting the post in the first half. "We knew it would be very physical," he said. "All the games are physical, and Chile are tough. They had a lot on the...