The 2022 FIFA World Cup begins in a few days and all players heading to Qatar with their national team are watching their fitness to ensure they’re healthy, including Lionel Messi.
Messi is dealing with an Achilles injury that kept him out of PSG’s 2-1 win at Lorient last weekend. Still, Argentina national team manager Lionel Scaloni has no concerns over the 35-year-old’s fitness.
“No player is going to reach 100 percent ahead of the World Cup,” Scaloni said (h/t beIN Sports). “We will do our best in the final week before the tournament to help every player.
“There are some who will not play the last games [for their clubs] as a precaution, but we know they are fine.”
After a challenging first season in the French capital, Messi is having a bounce-back season with PSG and reminding some doubters that his best years as a footballer aren’t behind him yet.
The Argentine has a collective 26 goals and assists for PSG this season – a tally only Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and teammate Neymar Jr. can match among players from Europe’s top five leagues.
The veteran forward wants to ensure that he’s ready for the tournament, which is why he didn’t want to risk any further damage to the Achilles possibly. Nonetheless, it appears as though he will be ready for Argentina.
Get well soon G.O.A.T