Lionel Messi's fitness remains in doubt ahead of Thursday's Copa America quarter-final with Ecuador with coach Lionel Scaloni saying he will wait before deciding on his team.

Messi had not trained since sustaining a groin/thigh injury during his side's 1-0 win against Chile on June 25. He sat out Argentina's 2-0 victory over Peru on Saturday.

Ecuador are preparing for "another final" at the Copa America after advancing to a quarterfinal match-up against defending champions Argentina, head coach Felix Sanchez said on Sunday.

The league's top talents will face the Mexican League All-Stars on July 24 at Columbus, Ohio.

Lionel Messi will miss Argentina's final Copa America group game against Peru after complaining of muscle tightness, team officials said on Friday.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni and Chile boss Ricardo Gareca were suspended for one match each after their teams' late arrival to the field of play during the Copa America, CONMEBOL said in a statement on Friday.

Lionel Messi may sit out Argentina's next Copa America game against Peru to rest a sore thigh with his team already qualified for the next round after two wins.

Argentina and Chile will write a new chapter in their long-standing rivalry on Tuesday's Copa America Group A clash at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, the same stage where "La Roja" thwarted the reigning world champions in the continental final in 2016.

Eight years ago, Messi was part of the Argentina team which lost the Copa America final on penalties to Chile at the New Jersey venue -- with the striker missing his team's first effort in the shoot-out.

This year, the Argentina captain gets to celebrate his birthday with the national team in the middle of the Copa America, ahead of their Tuesday Group A fixture against Chile in New Jersey.

Messi's appearances have been spread across seven editions of the Copa, starting with the 2007 tournament in Venezuela.

The Argentines, who won the tournament in 2021 and went on to hoist the 2022 World Cup, are no strangers to Copa America success.

"I've played against him [Messi], coached against him a few times and had some successes, but he always finds ways to make a difference because his quality is so amazing. So, that'll be the challenge for us," said Canada head coach Jesse Marsch.

When you have the greatest living player on Earth, you're going to be a favorite. That's certainly the case with Lionel Messi's Argentina, who have an extremely high-quality supporting cast around the still-magical, soon-to-be-37-year-old

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni announced the 26-player squad for the 2024 Copa America on Saturday, with Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria headlining the team.

Lautaro Martinez, this season's Serie A top scorer, put Argentina ahead with a penalty kick in the 39th minute before netting his second from a Messi pass after the break.

Doubles from Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martinez earned Argentina a 4-1 victory against Guatemala in their final Copa America warm-up.

"I spoke with (Argentinian Olympic coach Javier) Mascherano, and we immediately agreed on the situation," Inter Miami forward Messi said in the interview broadcast on Wednesday.

Messi's star turn raised the profile for MLS in the United States.

The Argentina football team led by Lionel Messi took part in their first formal training session at the Inter Miami Club Training Center in Miami in their build-up to the Copa America 2024 starting on June 21.