• Argentina captain Lionel Messi, centre, waves as he and teammates leave the hotel prior a training session in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, ahead of Friday's quarter-final match with Venezuela at the 2019 Copa America. EPA
    Argentina captain Lionel Messi, centre, waves as he and teammates leave the hotel prior a training session in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, ahead of Friday's quarter-final match with Venezuela at the 2019 Copa America. EPA
  • Lionel Messi and teammates board a bus before training. EPA
    Lionel Messi and teammates board a bus before training. EPA
  • Argentina's Lionel Messi, right, and Rodrigo De Paul during training. Reuters
    Argentina's Lionel Messi, right, and Rodrigo De Paul during training. Reuters
  • Argentina players Angel Di Maria, left, and Lionel Messi take a break during a training session in Rio de Janeiro. AFP
    Argentina players Angel Di Maria, left, and Lionel Messi take a break during a training session in Rio de Janeiro. AFP
  • Argentina captain Lionel Messi examines his left leg on the sidelines of a training session EPA
    Argentina captain Lionel Messi examines his left leg on the sidelines of a training session EPA
  • Lionel Messi takes a break during an Argentina training session. EPA
    Lionel Messi takes a break during an Argentina training session. EPA
  • Argentina'sLionel Messi watches his teammates during a training session in Rio de Janeiro. AFP
    Argentina'sLionel Messi watches his teammates during a training session in Rio de Janeiro. AFP
  • From left: Paulo Dybala, Nicolas Otamendi, Angel Di Maria, Lionel Scaloni and Lionel Messi gather during a training session in Rio de Janeiro. AFP
    From left: Paulo Dybala, Nicolas Otamendi, Angel Di Maria, Lionel Scaloni and Lionel Messi gather during a training session in Rio de Janeiro. AFP
  • Argentina player Lionel Messi leaves after a training session in Rio de Janeiro. AFP
    Argentina player Lionel Messi leaves after a training session in Rio de Janeiro. AFP
  • From left: Angel Di Maria, Lionel Messi and Roberto Pereyra take time out from training. AFP
    From left: Angel Di Maria, Lionel Messi and Roberto Pereyra take time out from training. AFP

Football

Lionel Messi takes it easy during Argentina training ahead of Venezuela match - in pictures

Messi and his Argentina teammates face Venezuela at the Maracana on Friday for a place in the 2019 Copa America semi-finals

Steve Luckings
Steve Luckings
Abu Dhabi

June 27, 2019

  • English
  • Arabic

Lionel Messi joined his Argentina teammates for a training session in Brazil ahead of Friday's 2019 Copa America quarter-final against Venezuela.

The squad were put through their paces at Centro de Treinamento do Fluminense in Rio de Janeiro ahead of Friday's encounter at the Maracana.

The match kicks off at 11pm UAE.

Argentina averted the ignominy of exiting at the group stage thanks to Lautaro Martinez and Sergio Aguero's strikes in Monday's 2-0 win over tournament guests Qatar that saw the two-time World Cup winners leapfrog Paraguay to secure the second automatic qualifying place behind Group B winners Colombia.

Messi has never won the Copa America in four previous attempts, losing the past two finals, both to Chile on penalties.

Argentina last lifted the Copa America in 1993.

Lionel MessiJapanSouth AmericaQatar