CHICAGO, June 11 — Lionel Messi was named on the substitutes bench for a second straight game as Argentina prepared to face Panama in the Copa America Centenario yesterday.

Argentina coach Gerardo Martino had earlier in the week indicated Messi would return to the starting line-up after recovering from a back injury.

However the Barcelona star, who missed Argentina’s 2-1 win over Chile on Monday, will instead remain on the bench for the Group D game.

Benfica forward Nicolas Gaitan again starts ahead of Messi at Chicago’s Soldier Field.

Messi injured his lower back playing for Argentina against Honduras last month.

He later travelled back to Spain to give evidence at his tax fraud trial before heading to the United States to join the squad.

He resumed full training with the squad earlier this week, fuelling expectation he would face the Panamanians yesterday. — AFP