Argentina manager Tata Martino came forward to explain the absence of Lionel Messi for a second consecutive game after his side beat Ecuador 2-1.

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"Messi's foot hurts a lot," said the former Barcelona manager. "It was not even about running risks or not; he was not ready."

Martino added: "We waited until the last moment to see if he could play and I understand the expectation, but he was not ready and had a hard time putitng on his boots."

Given the disappointment generated by the absence of Messi, who also missed the game against El Salvador last weekend, Tata asked for forgiveness from the thousands of spectators who had hoped to see the Barcelona star.

"I offer apologies to the people who came to see him," said the manager.

Messi returns on Wednesday to Barcelona and will undertake medical tests on his right foot, to know the scope of a problem that has been going on since March 22, when Barcelona played Real Madrid.

His presence at the game against Celta Vigo in Balaidos on Sunday is up in the air.