Lionel Messi absent from training ahead of FIFA World Cup final

Argentina national soccer team captain Lionel Messi was absent from training on Thursday ahead of their final FIFA World Cup clash with France.

Lionel Messi was absent from Argentina’s open training session on Thursday. According to the Argentine newspaper Ole, the media were allowed 15 minutes at Argentina’s training base and Messi was not in sight during that period.

It is not clear if Messi took part in Argentina’s training on Thursday after the media left the base.

Lionel Messi, however, has no injury concerns and is expected to return to training for Argentina on Friday. Argentine newspaper Clarín reports that Messi held an indoor training session at the gym on Thursday.

Read more: France vs Morocco: Kylian Mbappe sends a message to Achraf Hakimi after Morocco’s exit from the World Cup

Lionel Messi will play for Argentina in the 2022 FIFA World Cup final

There were concerns that Lionel Messi had suffered an injury after the Argentine was seen clutching his hamstring during their 3-0 win over Croatia in the 2022 FIFA World Cup semi-final.

However, Clarín clarifies that Messi does not have any hamstring problems and that the Argentine superstar will be with his team when they face France in the 2022 FIFA World Cup final.

Lionel Messi has been impressive for Argentina at the World Cup in Qatar 2022 as they aim to win the World Cup title for the first time in their trophy-laden career.

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The FIFA World Cup title has eluded Messi so far in his career, but the Argentine is now just one win away from lifting the coveted title. Messi, 35, is also in contention to win the Golden Boot and Ballon d’Or in Qatar 2022.

Lionel Messi currently leads the race for the Golden Boot with five goals and three assists for Argentina at Qatar 2022. France’s Kylian Mbappe also scored five goals in the latest edition of FIFA’s flagship event.

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Both Messi and Mbappé will have the chance to score a goal in the final and get the best out of each other to win the Golden Boot.

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Meanwhile, France reach this 2022 FIFA World Cup final thanks to their 2-0 win over Morocco in the semi-final. The match between Argentina and France kicks off at 8:30pm Indian Standard Time on Sunday.