'An easy decision' - Lionel Messi fitness update provided by Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni ahead of Copa America semi-final against Canada

At a pre-match press conference, Scaloni said there is "no doubt" about Messi's availability to face Canada, insisting that he will always pick the 37-year-old, even when not quite fully fit.

Messi was an injury doubt for the quarter-final against Ecuador due to a thigh complaint that ruled him out of the last group stage fixture against Peru. He ultimately made the game and completed 90 minutes, although did miss from the spot in the penalty shootout. Scaloni has no concerns about his availability now.

Scaloni said: "99% of the time, [Messi] is fit to play. It's never happened to me that he's not fit to play. Every time he's come out on the pitch, he's fit to play. For [Canada], he's fit to play, without a doubt. It's a very easy decision for me, because it's a very frank decision, that if he's fine, he plays; and if he's not fine, he plays the last 30 minutes. It's that easy.

"When he's fit, he always plays. There are no doubts. Who would have any doubts? I'm the coach, so I have no doubts. I'm the one who decides and when I see that he's fit to play, even if he's not 100% fit, he's going to play. I take responsibility for that but I have no doubts. It's true that that won't ever weigh on me, I know what he can give us even if he's not in optimal condition, I wouldn't make the grave mistake of not putting him on the pitch knowing that he gives us a lot, so that's indisputable."

Argentina are just one game away from reaching a fourth Copa America final in the space of five tournaments in the last decade. For Messi, who will be 39 by the time of the next World Cup in 2026, this could even be his last international competition. But with a third place play-off included, Argentina are guaranteed at least one extra game regardless of the Canada semi-final result.