Lionel Messi was named in the starting lineup for Argentina's Copa America quarter-final against Ecuador at NRG Stadium in Houston on Thursday after missing their final group game with a right leg injury.
Messi was injured in the Group A win over Chile, Argentina's second match of the tournament. His condition was described as “day to day” before he returned to training earlier this week, and coach Lionel Scaloni said Wednesday that whether Messi played or not depended on how he trained the night before the match.
“We'll train in a couple of hours and then we'll decide,” Scaloni said in a press conference before training. “One more day is always better, yesterday we had good feelings and today we'll decide. Depending on today's response.” [In training]”We will decide if Messi plays.”
Lautaro Martínez and Julián Álvarez previously played together when the team faced Ecuador in a pre-Copa América friendly on June 9, leading the way in a 1-0 win as Messi watched from the bench.
Argentina finished top of Group A, winning all three of their matches without conceding a goal.
The winner of Thursday's game will advance to the semifinals at Metlife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on July 9.
