Argentina captain Lionel Messi is aiming to lead his country to a third World Cup triumph in Qatar - but there are concerns about the Paris Saint-Germain star's fitness
Lionel Messi missed the start of Argentina's training session on Friday - just four days before their opening World Cup game against Saudi Arabia.
Messi, 35, is Argentina's captain and great hope heading into the tournament. The South American country hasn't won the World Cup since 1986 - when Diego Maradona led them to glory in Mexico - and many fans believe it's time for Messi to end their drought. 
Yet the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner didn't start training with his international team-mates on Friday. Argentina have played down fears of an untimely injury by revealing Messi was completing a gym session to ensure he's ready for Tuesday's game in Lusail, Qatar.
Around 400 reporters attended Argentina's open training session to catch a glimpse of Messi, yet they were worried when he didn't appear. As reported by Argentine outlet Ole, the Paris Saint-Germain star spent the start of Friday's training session in the gym as part of a 'special' programme tailored for the PSG superstar.
Messi was joined in the gym by Rodrigo De Paul, Leandro Paredes, Angel Di Maria and Nicolas Otamendi. All five players then linked up with the rest of Lionel Scaloni's squad for the second half of the training session. By that point, all of the reporters had left.
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The 2022 World Cup is almost certain to be Messi's last and his supporters are desperate to see him win the biggest competition in international football. He has come close to lifting the famous trophy before, when Argentina lost the 2014 final 1-0 to Germany.
Messi is one of the greatest players of all time after winning dozens of trophies with Barcelona and PSG - including 11 league titles and four Champions Leagues. He achieved significant success at youth international level, winning the U20 World Cup and Olympics.
Senior international honours evaded him for years, as he famously lost three finals in consecutive years. Yet Argentina are now one of the most successful teams in international football after winning the Copa America and Finalissima inside the last 18 months.
Argentina have not lost an international fixture since July 2019 - a run stretching 36 games. They'll be confident of progressing from their World Cup group ahead of Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Poland. France, Australia, Denmark or Tunisia could await them in the last 16.
Wayne Rooney has backed Argentina to win the World Cup. "Unlike in 2018, they have plenty of good, solid players around Lionel Messi such as Lautaro Martínez, Leandro Paredes, Rodrigo De Paul and of course Angel Di Maria," he told The Times.
"Winning the Copa America last year will have given them confidence and has taken a bit of pressure off them. The climate will suit them too. The only thing they are missing is a No 9, that focal point in attack, but I think they will be really dangerous."