The Argentine magician, Lionel Messi, has warned the Colombian national team that the injury that troubled him during his journey in the Copa América is now behind him. The Argentine team (defending champion) will face Colombia tonight Local time (early Monday morning GMT) at the Hard Rock Stadium in Florida, in the final match of the continental championship.
Messi missed the Tango's match against Peru in the quarter-finals due to a muscle injury, but he confirmed his complete recovery after playing against Canada in the semi-finals. The "little flea" told the D Sports platform: "Against Canada, I was in very good physical condition... against Chile, I suffered from a problem with my adductor, and I was no longer playing comfortably, and it bothered me whenever I stood up or moved."
He added: "In the match against Ecuador in the quarter-finals, I was ready right before the match... I recovered from the injury, but I was thinking that I was suffering from something." He concluded by saying: "In the last match, my fear disappeared, I felt better, and in the final, I will be better and better."
Should Messi (37 years old) play in the match against Colombia, he will become the player with the most finals played in the history of the oldest and most prestigious tournament for national teams in the world, according to the official website of the tournament. The former Barcelona star is preparing to participate in his fifth Copa América final, having already played in the finals of the 2007, 2015, 2016, and 2021 editions.
The "little flea" currently shares the record with fellow retired player Javier Mascherano, who has played in the finals of the 2004, 2007, 2015, and 2016 editions.
