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[caption id="attachment_15957" align="alignnone" width="580"] Messi trains with the Argentina team ahead of Panama tie. Image Source: dunia-bet.com[/caption] Internet Desk: Lionel Messi is fit to return for Argentina's Copa America clash with Panama at Soldier Field in Chicago on Friday. Messi has made good progress in his recovery from a back injury sustained in a warm-up match against Honduras, which ruled him out of his side's opening win over Chile. Martino has made no secret of Messi's importance to his side's chances of regaining the title, admitting: "We are always a better team when Messi is in the team. "Our chances of winning the Copa are always going to be higher when he is playing.'' Nicolas Gaitan performed well in Messi's absence while the role of team leader was taken up by the impressive Angel Di Maria who scored one goal and set up the other for Ever Banega. However, Martino will know there is no room for complacency against a side which made a superb debut in the competition by beating Bolivia. And they will particularly have to guard against Panama's in-form striker Blas Perez, who scored two goals in the impressive win. Meanwhile, Panama coach Hernan Dario Gomez left no doubt over his thoughts about Messi's potential involvement on Friday. He told reporters: "You can work a lot to build a team, but against Messi there's nothing you can do. "If Messi's inspired he can kill anyone. One works on tactics and has a team but individuals are above that in football. Messi is a man who is above everyone.''