Report: Lionel Messi Out for Argentina's Copa América Group Stage Finale amid Injury

Lionel Messi will sit out Argentina's Saturday group stage finale at the 2024 Copa América with an injury, per ESPN's Lizzy Becherano.

Messi received treatment for a right thigh issue during Argentina's 1-0 Tuesday win over Chile.

Although Messi called the injury "nothing serious" after the game, he will undergo more testing Thursday, Becherano reported.

After collecting two wins in as many group-stage contests, Argentina will head to the knockout stage regardless of the Saturday result against Peru. The team will hope to have Messi back on the pitch by the start of the Copa América quarterfinals in July.

That likely won't be the only change to Argentina's lineup, as with the knockout bid secured manager Lionel Scaloni said the Saturday match would be an opportunity to "give the youngest ones minutes," per Becherano.

Players like Manchester United's Alejandro Garnacho, who played in friendlies ahead of the tournament but have yet to appear in the group stage, could earn minutes with Messi and other veterans resting, per GOAL.com's Soham Mukherjee.

Messi appeared to suffer the injury after a collision with Chile's Gabriel Suazo in the 24th minute of the match. After receiving medical attention and stretching on the sideline he returned to the field.

"I felt some discomfort in my right hamstring at the beginning of the game," Messi said after the game, per Becherano. "It was tight. It wasn't as loose as it should've been. But I was able to finish the game. We'll see how it goes.

"In the first play, my adductor got hard. I didn't feel a puncture or a tear, but I did find it difficult to move freely."

Messi also told reporters that he had suffered a sore throat and fever in the days heading into the Chile match, Felipe Cardenas and Melanie Anzidei reported for The Athletic.

Argentinian news outlet TyC Sports reported Wednesday that Messi was set to undergo further evaluation from doctors.

After that is completed, Argentina "will confirm the extent of the injury," Becherano wrote.

Messi has suffered multiple hamstring injuries during his professional career, including a tear that sidelined him for two months in 2013. Argentina will hope this particular injury comes with a shorter recovery timeline as the country looks to become the all-time leader in Copa América titles with their 16th win in history.