Lionel Messi was on the bench for Argentina's opening Copa America Centenario match against Chile on Monday.
Reports circulated last night that Messi would not start in the Albiceleste's Group D opener, and they were confirmed once manager Gerardo Martino announced his lineup before the game.
Messi is nursing a back injury suffered in his side's 1-0 friendly defeat of Honduras on May 27. The Barcelona superstar took a knee to the torso and was subbed off in the 64th minute. Tests performed after the match showed a deep bone bruise in his lower lumbar region.
Sources told ESPN FC that Messi had only done two jogs since arriving in California to train with the team. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner had only joined his national team on Friday, having arrived from Spain where he appeared at a trial for tax evasion.
As expected, midfielder Nicolas Gaitan took Messi's place in the Argentina starting XI.
Argentina are looking to win their first major tournament since their Copa America triumph in 1993.