PRETORIA - Lionel Messi's hopes of being crowned the best player at the World Cup could be dashed by exhaustion even though the Argentina team said on Thursday all 23 squad members were fit.

"(Messi) has arrived at the World Cup tired, the damage is already done and it's irreversible," Argentina's fitness coach Fernando Signorini told the Catalan magazine Sport.

However, team doctor Donato Villani told a news conference later that all of coach Diego Maradona's squad, including Messi, were fit for selection for Saturday's Group B opener against Nigeria.