Mexico captain Edson Álvarez injured in Copa América opener

Mexico captain Edson Álvarez will undergo tests in the next couple of days after being forced off with an injury in the first half of his team's Copa América win over  Jamaica on Saturday at Houston's NRG Stadium.

After sprinting back during a counterattack from Jamaica, the West Ham midfielder suddenly hit the ground in pain, clutching his left hamstring.

Álvarez had to be helped off the field in obvious pain and was visibly distraught at his match, and potentially his tournament, coming to an end after less than 30 minutes.

"With Edson, we're going to wait a couple of days to give him an examination and know well what he has," Mexico manager Jaime "Jimmy" Lozano said in a postgame news conference. "Obviously as it is with any other player, the intention is not to risk anything. He felt something in his leg."

Álvarez is a key experienced figure in a young Mexico squad undergoing a generational change under Lozano at the Copa América. Since his debut with Mexico in February 2017, only Jesús Gallardo has played more games for El Tri than Álvarez's 80.

He has also played more minutes for Mexico than any other player since Lozano took charge last year.

Mexico will next play Venezuela -- which  beat Ecuador 2-1 in the day's other Group B match -- at Inglewood, California, on Wednesday. The group finishes on June 30, when Mexico plays Ecuador at Glendale, Arizona.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.