The 35-year-old was seen grabbing the back of his leg during his country’s semi-final win over Croatia, but was quick to emphasize that he was feeling “really good” after the match.
On Thursday, Messi did not take part in Argentina’s training, however his participation in the final is still not in doubt as he completed recovery work indoors. Only the players who were substitutes or did not play against Croatia participated in the session, while Papu Gómez and Lautaro Martínez worked in the gym.
There is hope that Ángel Di María will be fit for the showpiece after his injury woes, while both Marcos Acuña and Gonzalo Montiel will be available following their respective suspensions.
Argentina’s Lionel Messi’s shorts are pulled by Croatia’s Marcelo Brozovic
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French forward #12 Randal Kolo Muani (top) scores his team’s second goal beating Moroccan goalkeeper #01 Yassine Bounou during the Qatar 2022 World Cup semifinal
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Jude Bellingham reacts to referee Wilton Sampaio in England’s quarter-final with France
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Achraf Dari of Morocco with Walid Cheddira and teammates celebrate after the match as Morocco advance to the semi-finals
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Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal reacts during the quarterfinals of the World Cup in Qatar 2022
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Argentina’s players celebrate after winning the quarterfinals of the World Cup in Qatar 2022 on penalties
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Brazilian #10 forward Neymar (right) is consoled by Brazilian #11 forward Raphinha after his team lost the quarterfinals of the World Cup Qatar 2022
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Morocco players lift goalkeeper Bono after beating Spain on penalties to reach the quarter-finals for the first time
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Goncalo Ramos celebrates a hat-trick with Portugal in the round of 16
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Brazil players pay tribute to Pelé after reports of his poor health
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Croatia defeats Japan in the first penalty shootout of the 2022 World Cup in Russia
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Jude Bellingham relaxes after great performance against Senegal
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Aziz Behich is inches away from completing an unlikely comeback for Australia against Argentina in the round of 16.
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Vincent Aboubakar celebrates a famous goal for Cameroon against Brazil
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Luis Suárez stunned as his last World Cup ends in an early exit
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South Korea celebrates the elimination of Uruguay with a last-minute goal in the group stage
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Kaoru Mitoma of Japan appears to have the ball over the line before crossing it for a goal during the World Cup Group E soccer match between Japan and Spain, at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar.
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Germany players are dejected at the end of the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group E campaign and the match against Costa Rica
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England’s Marcus Rashford scores his first goal from a free kick past Danny Ward of Wales
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A pitch invader runs across the pitch carrying a rainbow flag during the World Cup group H match between Portugal and Uruguay, at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail
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Senegal’s Ismaila Sarr celebrates after his teams’ victory during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group A match between Ecuador and Senegal at Khalifa International Stadium
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USA forward #10 Christian Pulisic scores his team’s first goal past Iran goalkeeper #01 Alireza Beiranvand during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group B soccer match between Iran and USA in the Al-Thumama Stadium in Doha
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Cameroon’s Vincent Aboubakar, left, scores the second goal past Serbia’s goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic during the World Cup group G soccer match between Cameroon and Serbia, at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar .
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Brazilian midfielder #05 Casemiro celebrates with teammates after scoring his team’s first goal during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group G match against Switzerland at Stadium 974 in Doha.
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England’s Harry Kane reacts after missing a scoring chance against the USA.
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Kylian Mbappé of France scores his second goal against Denmark
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Japan fans wait for the start of the World Cup group E soccer match against Germany at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar,
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Uruguayan striker #21 Edinson Cavani (bottom) watches the ball during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group H match between Portugal and Uruguay at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, north of Doh
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A Ghanaian staff member takes a selfie with the dejected Heung-min Son after the win over South Korea
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Mehdi Taremi of Iran collides with Wales goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey during the FIFA IR World Cup Group B match at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, Al-Rayyan
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Belgian goalkeeper #01 Thibaut Courtois (R) concedes a goal from Moroccan midfielder #11 Abdelhamid Sabiri (unseen) during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group F football match between Belgium and Morocco at Al-Thumama Stadium in Doha .
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Keysher Fuller of Costa Rica celebrates scoring his first goal with Yeltsin Tejeda and teammates against Japan
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Germany’s players pose with their hands covering their mouths as they line up for team photos before the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group E match between Germany and Japan at the Khalifa International Stadium.
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England’s Jude Bellingham celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group B football match against Iran at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha
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England’s Bukayo Saka and Raheem Sterling throw a rubber toy during a training session at Al Wakrah Stadium.
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Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring his first goal with a banner of Argentina’s Lionel Messi in the background.
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Salem Al-Dawsari of Saudi Arabia scores his second goal beating Argentina’s Emiliano Martinez
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Wales’ Gareth Bale celebrates scoring the equalizer against the USA
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A Cameroonian fan awaits the start of the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group G l match against Switzerland
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Salem Al-Dawsari of Saudi Arabia celebrates scoring his second goal against Argentina
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England’s Jack Grealish celebrates for Finlay Fisher after scoring his team’s sixth goal during the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup Group B match against Iran at Khalifa International Stadium
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Alex Scott wears the One Love bracelet
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Saudi Arabia’s goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais hits Saudi Arabia’s defender Yasser Al-Shahrani on the head during their Qatar 2022 World Cup Group C match against Argentina at Lusail Stadium.
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Saudi Arabia fans celebrate after their sides’ second goal during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group C match against Argentina at Lusail Stadium
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David Beckham in the stands of England-Iran
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Takuma Asano of Japan scores it’s second sideline goal during the World Cup Group E soccer match against Germany at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar
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Senegalese fans wait for the start of the World Cup group A soccer match between Senegal and the Netherlands at the Al Thumama stadium.
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Olivier Giroud of France shoots on goal against Australia
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American Timothy Weah of the United States controls the ball during the FIFA World Cup Group B match Qatar 2022 against Wales at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium
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Dani Olmo of Spain scores his team’s first goal past Keylor Navas of Costa Rica during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group E match between Spain and Costa Rica at Al Thumama Stadium
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England fans cheer at BOXPARK Croydon as they watch a live broadcast of England’s opening group match against Iran.
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Ecuador’s Enner Valencia, right, scores his second goal against Qatar’s goalkeeper Saad Al Sheeb during the World Cup, group A soccer match between Qatar and Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Kho
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View of a giant replica of the World Cup in Qatar
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For the defending champions France, fears are mounting over the virus sweeping the camp after Raphael Varane and Ibrahima Konate became the latest players to fall ill, just two days from the final.
Adrien Rabiot, Dayot Upamecano and Kingsley all missed the win over Morocco through illness, and now Deschamps faces a potential defensive crisis with five players affected. Social distancing measures have been introduced to try to stop its spread.
There have also been suggestions that Karim Benzema could make a sensational return to the France squad for the final I
The Ballon d’Or winner was ruled out of the entire World Cup with a thigh tear suffered during training on the eve of the tournament, but is still signed up for the squad as manager Didier Deschamps refused to call up a replacement.
Benzema has returned to full training with Real Madrid and could fly to Qatar in what would be a dramatic boost for Les Bleus.
Argentina XI Predicted: E. Martinez; Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Acuna; DePaul, Paredes, Fernandez, MacAllister; Messi, Alvarez.
Expected France XI : Crying; Koundé, Varane, Konate, T. Hernández; Rabiot, Tchouameni; Dembélé, Griezmann, Mbappé; Giroud. .
