Lionel Messi in jovial mood as Argentina prepare for 2019 Copa America showdown with Brazil - in pictures

Messi and teammates looked relaxed as they trained in Belo Horizonte ahead of semi-final against hosts Brazil

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  Lionel Messi and Nicolas Otamendi during training ahead of the 2019 Copa America semi-final showdown against hosts Brazil in Belo Horioznte. AFP

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  Lionel Messi and Nicolas Otamendi during training ahead of the 2019 Copa America semi-final showdown against hosts Brazil in Belo Horioznte. Reuters

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  Argentina's player Lionel Messi trains during a practice session in Belo Horizonte. AFP

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  Argentina's Lionel Messi walks off the field after training. AFP

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  Lionel Messi put through his paces by the Argentina coaching staff. AFP

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  Argentina players jog during training. AFP

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  Lionel Messi, left, shares a joke with Argentina teammates Nicolas Otamendi, Rodrigo De Paul, Sergio Aguero, and Angel Di Maria. AFP

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  Lionel Messi controls a ball. AFP

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  Argentina's Lionel Messi trains next to a plastic toy. AFP

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  Lionel Messi kicks a ball during training ahead of the Brazil match. Reuters

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  Argentina's Lionel Messi, left, Sergio Aguero laugh as they train during a practice session in Belo Horizonte. AFP

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  Argentina's Lionel Messi attends a practice session in Belo Horizonte. AFP

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  From left: Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, Giovani Lo Celso and Nicolas Otamendi train during a practice session in Belo Horizonte. AFP

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  Lionel Messi, left, trains alongside Sergio Aguero. AFP

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  An Argentina fan holds up a sign with An image depicting Argentina's Lionel Messi to welcome Argentina's team before a training session in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. AFP

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  Argentina players including Sergio Aguero, second right, talk during training. AFP

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  Lionel Messi participates in a training session at Toca da Raposa, in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. EPA

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  Lionel Messi, left, and Sergio Aguero walk out for training with Argentina. EPA

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  From left: Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero and Paulo Dybala participate in a training session. EPA

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  Argentina's Lionel Messi trains during a practice session in Belo Horizonte. AFP

Lionel Messi looked relaxed in training on Monday as Argentina prepared to resume one of the greatest rivalries in football against Brazil at the 2019 Copa America.

At stake is a place in the final, but judging from the pictures in the gallery above, Messi was in jovial mood as he and his Argentina teammates were put through their paces in Belo Horizonte.

This is the mercurial Barcelona forward's fourth Copa semi-final, with Argentina having won the previous three, in 2007, 2015 and 2016. They would go on to lose all three finals.

UAE football fans will have to set their alarm clocks early if they want to catch the action. The match at the Mineirao in Belo Horizonte starts at 4.30am Wednesday morning.

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