Argentina's Lionel Messi Says He's Worried About Contracting COVID-19 Ahead Of Copa America

Just a day before taking part in another Copa America with Argentina, star football striker Lionel Messi expressed fear of contracting the dreaded Covid-19 amid players from rival teams testing positive for the infection. Photo Courtesy: AFP

The Copa America 2021 kicked off on Sunday amid the Coronavirus crisis in the country after Brazil 's Supreme Court gave the green signal to conduct the South American tournament. However, officials or players from Venezuela, Colombia and Bolivia contracted the virus even before the start of the tournament despite organisers claiming they had put strict Covid protocols in place. Photo Courtesy: AFP

Messi, who is all set to play for Argentina in Rio de Janeiro on Monday in their Copa America opener against Chile, said the fear of testing positive for Covid-19 was widespread in the team. It worries us because it is a risk for everyone catching COVID-19, Messi told reporters, as per espn.in. We try to be careful but it's not easy. These things happen. We'll try to do all we can so no one gets it but sometimes it doesn't depend solely on ourselves. Photo Courtesy: AFP

Earlier this year in April, the South American Football Confederation had said it aimed to vaccinate all international players before the tournament kicked off. However, if reports are to be believed, Messi has not been vaccinated. Photo Courtesy: AFP

Argentina was initially supposed to host the tournament but had backed out to the COVID-19 crisis. Even Rio de Janeiro Mayor did not like the idea of hosting the Copa America against the Coronavirus crisis. Photo Courtesy: AFP