Messi to miss Argentina friendly; Drogba under pressure

FIFA Ballon d'Or holder Lionel Messi will miss Argentina's friendly with Italy this evening, Barcelona confirmed yesterday.

"Leo Messi will not play the friendly in Rome this evening between Argentina and Italy," said a statement on the club's website.

"After undergoing a check-up with the Argentine medical staff, it has been decided that, the star will return to Barcelona to continue his recovery from a quadriceps strain in his left leg."

The 25-year-old missed the final match of Barça's Asian tour against Malaysia last Saturday due to the injury.

However, the club is still hopeful that he will be fit to play on Sunday as the Catalans begin their La Liga title defence against Levante.

Drogba was cast into the international wilderness after another CAF Africa Cup of Nations campaign went horribly wrong last February.

Serial title favourites Côte d'Ivoire fell to eventual champions Nigeria in the quarter-finals and Drogba, 35, seemingly became one of the fall guys.

Frenchman Sabri Lamouchi, the first coach in five consecutive Africa Cup tournament flops to survive, said the captain needed time out.

"We did not see the Didier we know at the Cup of Nations - moving to China cost him fitness and form," explained the coach.

Discarded for 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil qualifying wins over Gambia (twice) and Tanzania, Drogba was promised a chance of redemption.

And it comes at the MetLife Stadium on Wednesday against a Mexican side used to African opposition having drawn 2-2 with Nigeria recently.