Lionel Messi better after scare, says doctor

Lionel Messi’s condition had improved on Saturday fter the Barcelona superstar suffered a back injury in Argentina’s 1-0 friendly victory over Honduras, reports citing team medical officials said.

Team doctor Daniel Martinez told La Nacion newspaper that Messi felt less pain in his lower back a day after being left writhing in agony after a heavy collision with a Honduran opponent in the far western city of San Juan.

“Messi is better, with less pain than last night. His recovery is day to day, there are several treatments for this type of blow,” Martinez said.

The Argentina Football Association said in an injury update on its website that Messi had suffered a “significant bone and soft tissue contusion of the left rib cage and lumbar paraspinal area.”

Messi sustained the injury in an accidental collision.