Messi to start for Argentina in Copa quarterfinal

Lionel Messi successfully passed a late fitness assessment on Thursday, securing his place in Argentina's lineup for the Copa America quarterfinal against Ecuador.

Argentina's head coach, Lionel Scaloni, had indicated earlier that he would make a final decision just before the match regarding Messi's participation due to a recent hamstring injury. Messi had been sidelined for Argentina's last group-stage match, a 2-0 win against Peru.

The injury occurred during Argentina's 1-0 victory over Chile on June 27, with Messi receiving on-field treatment before continuing to play through the remainder of the match. He resumed training on Wednesday, preparing intensively for his potential return.

Argentina, aiming for their fifth consecutive Copa America semifinal appearance, currently holds an impressive eight-match winning streak across all competitions.