Lionel Messi's back injury could leave him sidelined for fast-approaching Copa America Centenario action.

The Argentinian star was injured in his national team's recent scrimmage against Honduras at de San Juan Stadium when he took a knee to the lower back. Messi lay on the field in pain for several minutes before being assisted by trainers and gingerly walking to the sideline.

Return to Action Unknown

A series of scans later diagnosed the injury as a bruise, though no update has been given concerning his possible return to play.

Leading up the tournament, Messi already faced the distraction of his ongoing tax case. He is scheduled to soon fly to Barcelona in hopes of resolving the issue.

Argentina Still Loaded for Copa America

Though boasting one of the deepest rosters of attackers in the Copa America field, Argentina has not won a major tournament since 1993, leaving Messi shutout in his quest to earn a medal for his country.

Immediately following the injury, the five-world player of the year was taken to the hospital for tests that proved negative and within 24-hours his pain had greatly diminished.

Still, Messi did not accompany the team on its recent flight to California to commence preparing for the Copa America tournament that opens for them on June 6, in St. Clara.

"We've got to take it day by day," team doctor Daniel Martinez recently told reporters. "It's an area where it hurts to move normally, [like] get up, turn and cough."

Making matters worse for Messi is the fact that soon he faces a pair of long and potentially grueling flights across the globe. He is soon scheduled to embark on a 13-hour flight from Argentina to Spain, followed by a 15-hour trip from Barcelona to San Francisco, where he's scheduled to rejoin the Argentine team sometime in early June.

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