Messi Admits To Training With Fear Ahead Of Crucial Copa America Clash

Lionel Messi expressed apprehension before returning to play for Argentina in the Copa America. Despite missing Argentina's group stage win over Peru, he started against Ecuador in the quarter-finals. Coach Lionel Scaloni had earlier indicated that Messi might not feature due to fitness concerns.

In the 1-1 draw with Ecuador, Messi had only 32 touches, his fewest in a competitive match for Argentina where he played the full 90 minutes since 2011. He missed his penalty in the shootout, but goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez ensured a 4-2 victory for Argentina by saving crucial penalties.

When asked about his feelings before the match, Messi told reporters via The Athletic: "The truth is bad. With a lot of uncertainty, with lots of fear when I was training, a lot of desire to be here and doing everything possible to be able to play. I was able to be here and [help] the team."

Messi acknowledged that facing Ecuador was challenging. "The truth is it was a difficult match, which was very hard to play," he said. "We knew it was going to be that way because they're a great team, a hard team who press well, who have intense, dynamic players, and when they have the ball they do damage as well. We expected this kind of game."

Argentina has now extended their unbeaten streak against Ecuador at the Copa America to 17 matches (11 wins and six draws). This is their third-longest unbeaten run against a single opponent in the competition.

Historical Unbeaten Streaks

The longest unbeaten run for Argentina in Copa America history is against Chile with 30 matches (22 wins and eight draws), excluding penalty shootouts. Their second-longest streak is against Paraguay with 26 matches (20 wins and six draws).

Messi and his teammates will face either Canada or Venezuela in the semi-finals. The upcoming match promises another exciting challenge for Argentina as they aim to defend their title.

32 - Lionel Messi had 32 ball touches against Ecuador, his fewest in a competitive game in which he played the 90 minutes for Argentina (World Cup, Qualifiers and Copa América) since 2011. Exception.pic.twitter.com/QxWc1zXjoc

— OptaJoao (@OptaJoao) July 5, 2024

The match statistics highlighted Messi's limited involvement on the field with just 32 touches. This statistic underscores how tightly contested the game was and how effectively Ecuador managed to limit Messi's influence.

Despite these challenges, Argentina's resilience shone through as they secured their place in the semi-finals. The team's ability to perform under pressure remains one of their key strengths as they continue their campaign.