Football star Lionel Messi is injured with just over two weeks before Argentina kick off their World Cup campaign in Qatar.
Already, Paris Saint-Germain have confirmed that the Argentine will miss Sunday’s trip to Lorient with an inflamed Achilles tendon, but that the injury is a minor one.
Earlier, Messi confirmed that Qatar 2022 will be his last World Cup.
Argentina lost the 2014 final to Germany, the closest he has come to lifting the only major trophy that eludes him in his stellar career.
But the new fitness concern is the latest injury he has had to battle off this season.
Just weeks ago, Messi missed two games due to a calf strain and then was spotted limping against Maccabi Haifa- leaving fans terrified.
The superstar is desperate to take Lionel Scaloni’s side to glory in Qatar, after they won the Copa America in 2021, with the World Cup the only major trophy that has continued to elude him in his glittering career.
The forward, who has 12 goals and 14 assists for PSG in all competitions this season, did play the full 90 minutes of PSG’s final Champions League group game away at Juventus on Wednesday.
Since returning to fitness, Messi has been in supreme form, scoring 12 times and adding 14 assists in 18 games in all competitions so far this year.
It is the latest injury scare for Argentina, with fellow attackers Paulo Dybala and Angel Di Maria both in a race against time to be fit for the tournament after suffering injuries this season, while Tottenham defender Cristian Romero is also expected to miss their final three games before the World Cup.
Argentina kick off their World Cup campaign on November 22 and also face Mexico and Poland in their group.
