Argentina's Copa America campaign will start without Lionel Messi. The superstar, nursing a back injury he suffered in a pre-cup friendly, was not named to the starting lineup for the nation's match with Chile on Monday night, but he could still play. According to the FS1 broadcast, Messi is available on the bench.
Messi is on the bench, but Argentina still go into their #CopaAmerica opener with a strong XI. #ARGvCHIpic.twitter.com/1daGIGFJo9
— FS1 (@FS1) June 7, 2016
On Sunday, manager Gerardo Martino said the team would test Messi out before the match and see how he felt and then consult with the team's doctor.
#VamosArgentina Mirá cómo formará la Selección ante @LaRoja ➡ https://t.co/nLwsaRr8qq
— Selección Argentina (@Argentina) June 7, 2016
Messi took a knee to the back at the end of May in a match against Honduras, and his status for the opener had been in doubt since then. Nico Gaitan replaces the Barcelona man in the starting XI in what is a rematch of last year's Copa America final.
Messi is expected to debut in the tournament at some point during Argentina's group stage, and it could very well be on Monday night based on how things go. The reigning runners-up are in Group D with Chile, Bolivia and Panama.
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