Messi was in 'intense pain' after back injury, team doctor says

Argentina team doctor Daniel Martinez provided some insight Saturday into the severity of the injury suffered by Lionel Messi during Friday's friendly victory over Honduras.

Messi was forced to leave the contest in the second half after taking a knee to the back from Johnny Leveron, and it was confirmed after the contest that the diminutive superstar suffered a rib contusion.

Related: Messi suffers rib contusion in pre-Copa friendly

"We did a scan on him at the stadium and then took him to do an ultrasound and an MRI," Martinez told La Nacion, via ESPN FC. "Thankfully we didn't find any bone damage or fractures but there is a large contusion.

"There's inflammation around the back of his rib cage and in the soft tissue. The pain is making it difficult to move normally, to turn, to cough.

"He was in intense pain on the field. The most worrying thing was the pain because, as I said, it was intense. Sometimes being warm means you don't feel anything but here was the complete opposite: Messi was in a lot of pain."

The Barcelona icon will continue to be assessed ahead of the Copa America Centenario, which begins June 3. The Albiceleste begin their tournament on June 6 with a mouthwatering match against defending champion Chile.