Is Messi's Achilles Injury Serious? Argentina Coach Gives Injury Update Ahead Of World Cup

Argentina national team's head coach Lionel Scaloni has opened up on captain Lionel Messi's recent injury issue ahead of FIFA World Cup 2022.

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) forward Messi is nursing an Achilles injury. He missed PSG's 2-1 victory last weekend at Lorient. However, Scaloni said he was not worried about it and was certain Messi will play in the World Cup, which is scheduled to begin on Nov. 20 in Qatar.

"No player is going to reach 100 percent ahead of the World Cup. 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," said Scaloni.

Messi also missed two-three games last month due to a calf problem, but Argentina are confident that their 35-year-old skipper will be ready for the upcoming marquee tournament. It will be Messi's fifth World Cup.

Following a challenging first season at PSG, Messi is having a fine run in this season with PSG. Having made 18 appearances for PSG, across all competitions, Messi has been involved in 26 goals this campaign: 12 goals and 14 assists.

Messi's collective goals and assists tally of 26 is the same as Manchester City's in-form Erling Haaland, who has netted 23 goals and provided three assists. Only Neymar has more goal involvement than the duo among Europe's top five leagues. The Brazilian forward has contributed to 27 goals for PSG: 15 goals and 12 assists.

Argentina are scheduled to face off against United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Abu Dhabi on Nov. 16 in a friendly fixture ahead of the Qatar World Cup.

After PSG's final game before the international break, which is a league fixture against Auxerre on Sunday, Messi will fly out to join the Argentina national side in Abu Dhabi.

Argentina's opening game is a Group c meeting with Saudi Arabia on Nov. 22.

The Albicelestes suffered a quarter-final exit from the Russia World Cup in 2018. They were beaten by eventual champions France.