Lionel Messi is a major doubt for Argentina’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Venezuela due to a hamstring injury.
The Barcelona ace played the full 90 minutes of the Catalan giants’ 1-0 victory at Athletic Bilbao on Sunday but complained of discomfort after the match before undergoing tests on Monday.
The results found the 29-year-old has a problem with his left adductor muscle, with Barca confirming the forward will be assessed further when he links up with his national side.
“Tests conducted have confirmed that Lionel Messi has a sore left adductor muscle.
Both the medical services of FC Barcelona and the AFA (Argentina Football Association) have agreed on this report,” a Barcelona statement said.
“The player will travel to Argentina to join the national team and the evolution of the discomfort will decide his availability to play in the games scheduled.”
Messi, who reversed his decision to retire from the national team earlier this summer, now faces a race against time to be fit for the international double-header, with La Albiceleste facing Uruguay on home soil on Thursday before they take on Venezuela in Merida five days later.
Edgardo Bauza’s men are currently third in the South American qualifying standings for the 2018 World Cup, two points behind leaders Uruguay, with 12 matches still to play in the qualification campaign.
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