Barcelona's Lionel Messi (C) is challenged by Levante's Vicente Iborra (L) and Xisco Nadal during their Spanish first division soccer match at Ciutat de Valencia stadium in Valencia May 11, 2011. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)

Lionel Messi is Argentina's centre forward, coach Sergio Batista said as he closed the Copa America door to Carlos Tevez.

"My number nine is Lionel Messi," Batista said on Monday.

"There are no discarded players but if you ask about Tevez ... we have Messi in that position," he said while adding that the door to his team was not closed to anyone in the future.

Batista added his decision concerning Tevez was purely a footballing one, saying: "There's nothing personal. Argentina are not going to play like Barcelona but I want to surround Messi in the best possible way," Batista said. "We will play a controlled possession game with patience."