(AP) " Argentina star Lionel Messi started for Argentina in its Copa America match against Venezuela on Saturday. In the quarterfinal against Venezuela, Messi assisted on Argentina's first goal with a long pass to Gonzalo Higuain in the eighth minute. He sat out the Copa America opener and came on as a substitute in the next two games of group play, scoring a hat trick in just 29 minutes against Panama. It was his first start of the tournament. The Barcelona midfielder is recovering from a back injury.

Source: New Zealand Herald June 18, 2016 23:26 UTC