Copa America Quarter-Finals Schedule, Lionel Messi Injury Update

HOUSTON — Lionel Messi’s leg injury was the only major obstacle that stood in Argentina’s way as it advanced to the quarterfinals of the Copa America.

Bigger challenges await the defending champions, and they will hope Messi will be there to lead the way in what may be his last international tournament.

The Albiceleste, 15-time Copa América champions, remain the clear favourites in the Americas’ biggest football tournament when the quarter-finals begin, but the other 15-time Copa champions – Uruguay – top the list of challengers capable of overcoming them.

With hosts USA and Mexico eliminated in the group stage, the spotlight now turns to the South American powerhouses determined to lift the trophy.

It is not yet known whether Messi will play in the first quarter-final in Houston due to a leg injury that sidelined him from the team’s last match against Peru. Coach Lionel Scaloni said Messi’s availability will be a decision made in real time.

“Depending on his reaction, we will decide,” Scaloni said Wednesday before training. “There are consequences if Leo can’t play. We will try to make sure he can play. If not, we will try to find the best solution for the team. I will talk to him today. It is right that he can take his time and train as much as he can.”

Argentina were solid even without a goal from Messi in the tournament, winning all three group stage games by a combined score of 5-0.

Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez scored four goals in a spectacular performance despite coming off the bench twice, while Manchester City’s Julián Álvarez got the other goal. If Scaloni decides to play the two centre-forwards together, it could be enough to compensate for Messi’s absence – and a nightmare for underdogs Ecuador, who secured their unexpected quarter-final place by holding Mexico to a draw last weekend.

It will be a match full of surprises. Venezuela has had an exceptional tournament so far, winning its three matches by a combined score of 6-1 thanks to the offensive leadership of Salomón Rondón and Eduard Bello.

Canada qualified for the Copa group stage for the first time despite scoring just one goal in three games before losing Inter Milan player Tajon Buchanan to a broken leg in training on Tuesday. Reaching the semifinals would be a feat for either team.

The districts travel west for a pair of games played in air-conditioned stadiums amid a continent-wide heat wave.

Colombia are now unbeaten in 26 consecutive matches after drawing with Brazil to finish top of their group. Led by veteran James Rodríguez, the Cafeteros will be favourites to eliminate Panama, who eliminated hosts USA to advance to the group stages.

Sin City will undoubtedly host the most enticing match of the day, with a struggling team facing a team known for always hitting above their weight.

No quarter-final team has looked as shaky as Brazil, who failed to reach the next round with a thoroughly disappointing performance. Colombia and Costa Rica both held the Seleção to draws, and the fans’ discontent is running high.

Worse still, Real Madrid star Vinícius Júnior is suspended for the quarter-finals after collecting two yellow cards. Yet Brazil is full of individual talent who have hardly ever played in this tournament, so it is far too early to write off the five-time World Cup winners.

Uruguay have looked as good as expected under brilliant coach Marcelo Bielsa, winning three times by an aggregate score of 9-1 in the group stages led by Liverpool striker Darwin Núñez.

Having beaten Brazil and Argentina in recent World Cup qualifiers, the Celeste would likely be tournament favourites had Argentina not been in equally strong form – but Brazil have the sheer talent to end those dreams in no time.