Lionel Messi’s involvement in a 1-0 win over Paraguay last week doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll be fit for Argentina’s next game in World Cup qualifying against Peru.
Messi played most of the second half against Paraguay last Thursday despite struggling with muscular pains in the weeks leading up to the game.
But there’s no certainty he’ll play against Peru on Tuesday despite practising with the squad.
Meanwhile in Brazil, Neymar is under fire for his lacklustre performance in a 1-1 draw against Venezuela last week that ended with some fans throwing popcorn at the Arena Pantanal in Cuiaba. He will have a tough challenge at Uruguay to show he is back in form.
The next World Cup in the US, Mexico and Canada is expanding to a 48-team format, meaning direct entry to the top six teams in South America. The seventh-place team will contest an intercontinental playoff for a berth.
Argentina’s practice on Sunday didn’t show whether the 36-year-old Messi will play against Peru. He took part of the morning session at his national team’s training ground, but has recently felt muscular pains in his right leg that have sidelined him for several MLS matches for his club, Inter Miami.
If Messi plays at Peru, coach Lionel Scaloni might have to remove either Julian Alvarez or Lautaro Martinez from the lineup that beat Paraguay. Keeping the captain in the starting lineup will likely mean Argentina playing Nico Gonzalez again in Lima.
Brazil fans were frustrated with the draw against Venezuela. The 31-year-old Neymar was the team’s most criticised player after that encounter because of several missed passes and floppy finishes.
The Al Hilal striker was filmed leaving the pitch in anger as some fans threw popcorn at him. Brazil’s football tradition calls “pipoqueiro” (popcorn man) the players who fail to deliver in big matches.
Uruguay have not beaten Brazil in World Cup qualifying since 2001. Captain Federico Valverde is optimistic about the match after a 2-2 draw at Colombia.
He said he and Real Madrid teammates Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo of Brazil have spent weeks talking about the encounter.
