Messi injured, is doubtful for tie

Madrid, Aug. 30: Barcelona striker Lionel Messi has returned home to Argentina but remains doubtful for World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Venezuela with his club confirming the 29-year-old is struggling with a sore left hamstring.

Messi played in Sunday’s 1-0 league win at Athletic Bilbao but underwent tests on Monday after admitting that the injury was causing him pain.

“Tests conducted have confirmed that Lionel Messi has a sore left adductor muscle. Both the medical services of FC Barcelona and the AFA (Argentina Football Association) have agreed on this report,” Barcelona said in a statement.

“The player will travel to Argentina to join the national team and the evolution of the discomfort will decide his availability to play in the games scheduled,” the statement read.

Argentina sit third in the 10-team South American qualifying group on 11 points from six matches, two points behind leading pair Uruguay and Ecuador.

Edgardo Bauza will take charge of Argentina for the first time when they host Uruguay in Mendoza on Thursday before the side travels to Venezuela for another qualifier in Merida five days later.

Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero and Paris St Germain midfielder Javier Pastore have already pulled out of the squad through injury, so the 2014 World Cup runners-up will be hoping Messi can be fit enough to play. —

— AFP France’s football players attend a training session in Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines on Monday as part of the team’s preparation for the upcoming friendly match against Italy.

— AFP Argentina forward Lionel Messi looks on with a kneel on the ground during the Spanish league match for Barcelona against Athletic Club Bilbao at the San Mames stadium in Bilbao on Sunday.