Argentina will face Peru in their final Copa America group game without their star player, Lionel Messi, who is sidelined due to muscle tightness. Assistant coach Walter Samuel announced on Friday that Messi, who plays for Inter Miami, is dealing with an injury to his right adductor muscle and is being assessed "day-by-day."

"Leo had a problem in the last game, he won't be there for this game," Samuel stated in a press conference. "We are going to go day-by-day waiting for its evolution."

Samuel emphasized that the team's performance wouldn't be significantly affected by Messi's absence, suggesting that veteran Angel Di Maria might step in. "The team has always proven to be up to the task before when he wasn't there," Samuel noted.

Argentina has already secured a spot in the quarter-finals after victories against Canada and Chile. A draw in their upcoming match against Peru at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami would ensure they advance as group winners.

Despite potentially resting several key players, Samuel assured that Argentina is taking the match seriously. "Peru has top players; we are taking this game with the utmost seriousness," he said. Samuel will be in charge on the bench, filling in for head coach Lionel Scaloni, who is serving a one-game suspension. Scaloni and Argentina were penalized for delaying their return to the field for the second half in their matches against Chile and Canada.

Samuel conveyed Scaloni's disappointment over the suspension, stating, "We consider ourselves a correct coaching staff and in all these years we've never had these kinds of sanctions."

Argentina aims to finish the group stage strongly, even in Messi's absence, and will be looking forward to his recovery as they progress to the knockout rounds.