With the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar now almost a month away, Lionel Messi has admitted to having a big concern ahead of the tournament.
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Injuries have hit a couple of high-profile Argentine players in recent weeks, with Angel Di Maria and Paulo Dybala facing some uncertainty over their fitness ahead of the World Cup in the Middle East.
Messi also missed two matches for PSG before returning to action in their 1-0 win over Marseille in Ligue 1 on Sunday, a game in which the 35-year-old appeared to move around gingerly when out of possession.
The Albiceleste captain has now admitted that seeing Dybala and Di Maria pick up injuries in recent weeks has left him concerned for his own condition for the tournament, but insisted that not too much time can be spent worrying.
"Injuries are a worry," he told DirecTV Sports.
"This is a different World Cup which is played at a different time of the year to previous tournaments and it's so imminent any little thing that happens to you can force you out.
"With what happened to Dybala and Di Maria, the truth is that, personally, you worry and you're more afraid when you see those sort of things.
"It's something you think about but I feel going out to play with that in your head can be contradictory as well.
"The best thing you can do is perform as normal and play your game as you always do.
"I hope Di Maria and Dybala recover in time. They have enough time to do so and reach the tournament in good shape."
Other big names across Europe have had major injury scares in recent months, such as Paul Pogba and N'Golo Kante, while England's Reece James could also miss the World Cup with knee trouble.
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