Messi to miss Venezuela match, scores on Argentina return

Lionel Messi’s triumphant Argentina comeback has been tempered by a groin injury that has forced his withdrawal from Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier in Venezuela.

Messi, who had gone back on his decision to quit the team following their Copa America final defeat in June, scored the only goal in a 1-0 home win over Uruguay on Thursday that sent Argentina to the top of the South American group.

However, the Argentina captain will not travel with the team to Merida where they face Venezuela in another round of regional qualifiers, coach Edgardo Bauza said.

“He won’t be able to play, he has inflammation and still feels pain, we can’t take risks,” Bauza told reporters after training at the Argentine FA headquarters outside Buenos Aires.

The AFA confirmed the decision, announcing on its website (www.afa.com.ar) that it had been taken after tests on Messi’s groin in the morning.

“He has been told to rest and won’t play against Venezuela,” it said, with media reporting that Messi would fly directly back to his club Barcelona at the weekend.

The decision was easier for Argentina to take before they face the weakest team in the group having bagged three points in Tuesday’s win in Mendoza, where they played a man short for half the match after Paulo Dybala was sent off.

“My groin is hurting a lot, from before this match,” Messi told reporters after the win. “I always want to be (in the team)… but there are also a lot of important matches coming up (for club and country).”

Meanwhile, Brazil remain in fifth place, outside the automatic qualification spots, despite their 3-0 win over Ecuador.

Manchester City’s summer signing Gabriel Jesus, 19, scored twice on his debut. with Neymar netting the opener.

Brazil have never failed to qualify for a World Cup and are only two points behind Argentina with more than half of the qualifying campaign to go.

A top-four finish would secure automatic qualification for Russia 2018, with fifth place securing a two-legged play-off with a team from Oceania – either New Zealand, New Caledonia, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Tahiti.

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