Lionel Messi has been ruled out for up to
eight weeks after suffering a hamstring
injury in Barcelona's 4-1 win over Real
Betis on Sunday night.
Messi limped off after less than half-an-hour
and could be absent for up to two months
after scans revealed the full extent of the
problem in his left hamstring.
The Argentinian playmaker will miss the
upcoming international friendlies against
Ecuador and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Barcelona have already qualified from the
group stages of the UEFA Champions League,
but Messi will be absent for a number of La
Liga matches.
The world player of the year has been
hampered by hamstring issues and also
damaged his left one earlier in the season
and then the right one at the end of
September.
A club statement read: "According to the
club's medical services, the tests taken on
Monday morning by Leo Messi have
confirmed that the player has suffered a torn
muscle in the femoral biceps of his left leg.
"The approximate time he will be out is
between six and eight weeks.
"The first part of his recovery will take place
in Barcelona and the second, in Buenos
Aires."
Barca team-mate Cesc Fabregas has pulled
out of the Spain squad after he also sustained
a knee injury against Betis.
Fabregas netted twice before being withdrawn
and Spain boss Vicente del Bosque has
decided to rest him for friendlies with
Equatorial Guinea and South Africa.
Defender Marc Bartra, another Barcelona
player, has been drafted in to replace
Fabregas and the 22-year-old will be hoping
for his first senior cap.
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