Messi overcomes injury to start Copa America quarterfinal

Lionel Messi passed a late fitness test Thursday to start Argentina's Copa America quarterfinal win over Ecuador.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said he would wait until the last minute to determine whether Messi's hamstring injury would cost him a second straight match at the Copa America. Messi sat out Argentina's final group-stage game, a 2-0 victory over Peru.

Messi tweaked his hamstring during Argentina's 1-0 win over Chile on June 27. After receiving treatment on the field for several minutes, the 37-year-old saw out the remainder of the game. He participated in training on Wednesday.

Messi played the full match Thursday as Argentina used a 4-2 shootout victory to reach the Copa America semifinals for the fifth consecutive tournament. He missed the opening spot-kick of the shootout, sending a Panenka off the crossbar, but goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez then stole the show as the reigning South American champion moved on.