Why Argentina's Copa America win vs. Chile might be a bummer for Lionel Messi fans

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Argentina’s win over Chile was great for Lionel Messi’s national team, but potentially disappointing for his legion of fans traveling from city to city to see him in action during Copa América 2024.

Messi was held scoreless for the second group play match as Argentina advanced to the Copa América quarterfinals, following their 1-0 win against Chile at MetLife Stadium on Tuesday night. He had his chances, but didn’t score for the second straight Copa America match – one day after his 37^th birthday.

But the most important junction of the Chile match occurred in the 25th minute, when Messi was seen having his right groin/adductor area massaged by a trainer.

While Messi finished the match, Argentine news outlet TYCSports reports Messi will get his injury evaluated by doctors, and he may not play in Argentina’s third group play match Saturday against Peru at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami – the city he has called home for the last year.

“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 said in a mixed-zone interview after the match.

Messi, in another answer to media, said: “I was able to [finish the match], so I hope it's nothing serious.”

It would be a shame if soccer’s biggest star, the star of Major League Soccer club Inter Miami, couldn’t play a Copa América in his new hometown.

Argentina’s win was great for them. They have six points after two matches in Group A, and clinched a trip to the quarterfinals. With Canada in second with three points, and Chile and Peru at the bottom of the group with one point apiece, Argentina can be conservative. They can use the Peru match to give players like Messi some rest for the stretch run, and others an opportunity to play.

There’s no need to push or force Messi to play. Of course, ever the competitor, Messi wants to play every match he can.

Then again, Messi’s health is paramount – not just for Argentina’s Copa América run. But for Inter Miami after the tournament. And soccer’s big push in the United States with the World Cup 2026 near, but two years away.

Argentine coach Lionel Scaloni said he didn’t speak to Messi after the match. But he made two points regarding Messi’s health: His completion of the match, and a straightaway run he made in the final minutes, after Lautaro Martinez scored the game-winning goal, as Argentina challenged for another.

Then, Scaloni utters words Messi fans might groan hearing – whether he’s healthy or not. Because the Peru match is virtually inconsequential, it offers Argentina an opportunity to play some of its younger, bench players to get them some valuable Copa América experience.

“We are satisfied, and we can enjoy the days, and give the youngest ones minutes,” Scaloni said. “I think it’s fair to have the players that did not have minutes get onto the pitch.”

Messi missed six games toward the end of last season with Inter Miami, and a preseason match in Hong Kong earlier this year due to a similar injury. He has also missed time earlier this MLS season due to a hamstring injury.

Rest and rehabilitation has been the best medicine for Messi when injured, but time might not be on his side during Copa América.