Lionel Messi has said it will take another five games before he is back to full fitness after he was injured in November.
Messi injured his thigh against Real Betis and missed two months of the season due to the problem, only returning on January 11 against Atletico Madrid, five games ago.
According to Marca, the forward has told a radio interview with Buenos Aires-based Radio La Red he is only half-way through his recovery period.
“We are in a process and we knew that as the matches went by I was going to feel better,” Messi said.
“We put a cap of 10 games to get used to the pace and I’m slowly improving.
“Everything is going as planned. I’m finding it a little better.
“I still have to be 100% but little by little I will be.”
Messi added that he pays no attention to records and is only aware of breaking them as he approaches each one, including the last record broken, that of Telmo Zarra’s for goals scored for one Spanish club.
“I don’t go out for records,” Messi insisted.
“I only find out at the time, when I’m near to them.
“It’s not the prize but it’s something nice to be there.
“I’m sure another one will come along and I’ll go past that. It’s nice but I’m not crazy for them.”
Talk turned to Argentina and the World Cup, with Messi acknowledging that the South Americans are among the favourites to win the trophy this summer.
He adds though that he feels his club form can help him on the international scene.
“The World Cup is coming quickly,” Messi said.
“But we also have important things going on at the club, everyone at the club does, and we’re getting to the time that defines us.
“Within a few days we play Manchester City in the Champions League and we’ve still got the League with Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid.
“We’ve gotten to the Cup final as well.
“We are doing important things now and I’m also thinking of the World Cup.
“Rightly or wrongly Argentina is always a candidate to win, because we are a big country.
“Just like Brazil, Germany, England, all the European teams are always the favourites too.
“We can arrive at a good time after qualification was like it was.
“There’s still a little time to get the details right and get ready for the World Cup.”
