Messi admits he's struggling at Copa America ahead of Brazil clash

Lionel Messi isn't firing on all cylinders ahead of a mammoth Copa America tilt between Argentina and Brazil.

The Albiceleste star admitted as much following his side's 2-0 quarterfinal victory over Venezuela on Friday, which set up Tuesday's much-anticipated clash.

"Truth is I am not doing my best Copa America, or what I hoped to do," he said, according to Mauricio Savarese of The Associated Press. "It is always more complicated for us that want to attack, do something different when we have the ball, dribble the opposition."

Messi has scored just once through four matches thus far, netting a penalty against Paraguay last week. His trademark passing ability has been subdued, too; the 32-year-old still hasn't recorded an assist.

Lionel Scaloni doesn't seem overly concerned, though. When asked about the muted contribution of his talismanic captain, the Argentina manager said the Barcelona forward is helping out his young squad in other ways.

"What Messi brings to us is essential, I have no doubt. If you saw all that he brings in the locker room, maybe that opinion would be different," Scaloni said. "Messi is Messi, he is the best of all."

He'll need to be just that against the Selecao.