Messi worries Argentina with back injury

San Juan (Argentina), May 28 

Argentina had a scare when Lionel Messi had to be substituted after incurring a back injury during a 1-0 win over rugged Honduras in a Copa America Centenario warm-up friendly on Friday.

Messi walked off in pain in the 64th minute in San Juan after a clash with Honduras substitute Oliver Morazan 10 days before Argentina’s opening Group D match against Chile.

The team later dispelled fears of a serious injury, saying on their Twitter account that Messi had “suffered bruising on the left of his lower back and ribs.” Gonzalo Higuain scored the only goal for Argentina.

In other warm-up matches for the June 3-26 tournament in the US, Uruguay overcame Trinidad and Tobago 3-1 and title holders Chile were upset 2-1 by Jamaica. — Reuters