The 35-year-old was seen holding the back of his leg during his country’s semi-final win over Croatia but was quick to stress he felt “really good” after the game.
On Thursday, Messi did not feature in training for Argentina however his participation in the final is not yet in doubt as he completed indoor recovery work. Only the players who featured as substitutes or did not play against Croatia took part in the session, while Papu Gomez and Lautaro Martinez worked in the gym.
There is hope that Angel Di Maria will be fit for the showpiece after his injury problems, while both Marcos Acuna and Gonzalo Montiel will be available following their respective suspensions.
Argentina’s Lionel Messi’s shorts are pulled by Croatia’s Marcelo Brozovic
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France’s forward #12 Randal Kolo Muani (top) scores his team’s second goal past Morocco’s goalkeeper #01 Yassine Bounou during the Qatar 2022 World Cup semi-final
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Jude Bellingham reacts to referee Wilton Sampaio in England’s quarter-final with France
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Morocco’s Achraf Dari with Walid Cheddira and teammates celebrate after the match as Morocco progress to the semi finals
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Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo reacts during the Qatar 2022 World Cup quarter-final
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Argentina players celebrate after they won on penalty shoot-out the Qatar 2022 World Cup quarter-final
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Brazil’s forward #10 Neymar (R) si consoled by Brazil’s forward #11 Raphinha after their team lost the Qatar 2022 World Cup quarter-final
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Morocco players lift up goalkeeper Bono after beating Spain on penalties to reach the quarter-finals for the first time
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Goncalo Ramos celebrates a hat-trick for Portugal in the last-16
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Brazil players make tribute to Pele after reports of his ill health
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Croatia defeat Japan in the first penalty shootout of the 2022 World Cup
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Jude Bellingham relaxes after his star dislay against Senegal
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Aziz Behich comes within inches of completing an unlikely Australia comeback against Argentina in the last-16
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Vincent Aboubakar celebrates a famous winner for Cameroon against Brazil
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Luis Suarez stunned as his last World Cup ends in an early exit
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South Korea celebrate knocking out Uruguay with a last-minuter winner in the group stage
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Japan’s Kaoru Mitoma appears to have the ball over the line before crossing it for a goal during the World Cup group E soccer match between Japan and Spain, at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar
AP
Germany players stand dejected at the end of the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group E campaign and match v Costa Rica
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England’s Marcus Rashford scores their first goal from a free kick past Wales’ Danny Ward
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A pitch invader runs across the field with a rainbow flag during the World Cup group H match between Portugal and Uruguay, at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail
AP
Ismaila Sarr of Senegal celebrates after their sides victory during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group A match between Ecuador and Senegal at Khalifa International Stadium
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USA’s forward #10 Christian Pulisic scores his team’s first goal past Iran’s goalkeeper #01 Alireza Beiranvand during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group B football match between Iran and USA at the Al-Thumama Stadium in Doha
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Cameroon’s Vincent Aboubakar, left, scores the second goal past Serbia’s goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic during the World Cup group G soccer match between Cameroon and Serbia, at the Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar
AP
Brazil’s midfielder #05 Casemiro celebrates with teammates after he scored his team’s first goal during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group G match v Switzerland at Stadium 974 in Doha
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England’s Harry Kane reacts after missing a chance to score v USA
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France’s Kylian Mbappe scores their second goal v Denmark
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Fans from Japan wait for the start of the World Cup group E soccer match v Germany at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar,
AP
Uruguay’s forward #21 Edinson Cavani (bottom) eyes the ball during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group H match between Portugal and Uruguay at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, north of Doh
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A Ghana staff member takes selfie with despondent Heung-min Son after victory over South Korea
BBC
Iran’s Mehdi Taremi collides with Wales goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey during theIR FIFA World Cup Group B match at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, Al-Rayyan
PA
Belgium’s goalkeeper #01 Thibaut Courtois (R) conceides a goal shot by Morocco’s midfielder #11 Abdelhamid Sabiri (unseen) during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group F football match between Belgium and Morocco at the Al-Thumama Stadium in Doha
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Costa Rica’s Keysher Fuller celebrates scoring their first goal with Yeltsin Tejeda and teammates v Japan
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Germany players pose with their hands covering their mouths as they line up for the team photos prior to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group E match between Germany and Japan at Khalifa International Stadium
Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images
England’s Jude Bellingham celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group B football match v Iran at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha
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England’s Bukayo Saka and Raheem Sterling throw a rubber toy during a training session at Al Wakrah Stadium
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Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring their first goal with a banner of Argentina’s Lionel Messi in the background
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Saudi Arabia’s Salem Al-Dawsari scores their second goal past Argentina’s Emiliano Martinez
Hannah McKay/Reuters
Wales’ Gareth Bale celebrates scoring their equaliser v USA
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A Cameroon fan waits for the start of the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group G l match v Switzerland
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Saudi Arabia’s Salem Al-Dawsari celebrates scoring their second goal v Argentina
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England’s Jack Grealish celebrates for Finlay Fisher after scoring their team’s sixth goal during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group B match v Iran at Khalifa International Stadium
The FA via Getty Images
Alex Scott wears the One Love armband
BBC
Saudi Arabia’s goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais hits Saudi Arabia’s defender Yasser Al-Shahrani in the head during their Qatar 2022 World Cup Group C match v Argentina at the Lusail Stadium
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Saudi Arabia fans celebrates after their sides second goal during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group C match v Argentina at Lusail Stadium
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David Beckham in the stands for England v Iran
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Japan’s Takuma Asano scores is side second goal during the World Cup group E soccer match v Germany at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar
AP
Senegal’s fans wait for the start of the World Cup group A soccer match between Senegal and Netherlands at the Al Thumama Stadium
AP
France’s Olivier Giroud shoots at goal v Australia
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USA’s Timothy Weah of United States controls the ball during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group B match v Wales at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium
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Dani Olmo of Spain scores their team’s first goal past Keylor Navas of Costa Rica during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group E match between Spain and Costa Rica at Al Thumama Stadium
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England fans cheer at BOXPARK Croydon as they watch a live broadcast of England’s opening group-round match versus Iran
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Ecuador’s Enner Valencia, right, scores his second goal against Qatar’s goalkeeper Saad Al Sheeb during the World Cup, group A soccer match between Qatar and Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Kho
AP
View of a giant replica World Cup in Qatar
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For defending champions France, fears are growing over the virus sweeping through the camp after both Raphael Varane and Ibrahima Konate became the latest players to fall ill, just two days out from the final.
Adrien Rabiot, Dayot Upamecano and Kingsley missed the win over Morocco through illness, and now Deschamps is facing a possible defensive crisis with five players now affected. Social distancing measures have been introduced to try and halt its spread.
There have also been suggestions that Karim Benzema could make a sensational return to the France squad for the final.
The Ballon d’Or winner was ruled out for the whole World Cup with a thigh tear suffered in training on the eve of the tournament, but is still registered with the squad as manager Didier Deschamps declined to call up a replacement.
Benzema has returned to full training with club side Real Madrid and could fly out to Qatar in what would be a dramatic boost for Les Bleus.
Predicted Argentina XI: E. Martinez; Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Acuna; De Paul, Paredes, Fernandez, Mac Allister; Messi, Alvarez.
Predicted France XI : Lloris; Kounde, Varane, Konate, T. Hernandez; Rabiot, Tchouameni; Dembele, Griezmann, Mbappe; Giroud.
