Lionel Messi has returned to Barcelona after pulling up with a pelvic injury while representing Argentina.
Messi scored the winner in Argentina’s 1-0 win against Uruguay on Thursday to move his country top of the South American qualifying section for World Cup 2018 but now faces a race against time to be fit for Barca’s visit of Alaves in La Liga next weekend.
“Messi won’t be available for the next game, he has some inflammation in his pubic bone and must be taken care of,” Coach Edgardo Bauza told reporters.
“We won’t take risks [with him]. We spoke with the medical team and player and decided that he wouldn’t play.”
A statement released by the Argentine Football Association (AFA) added: “Lionel Messi underwent medical and kinaesthetic treatment for inguinocrural pain.
“He will now rest and not play against Venezuela, by dated 8 Playoff classification Russia 2018.”
So how does the player himself feel?
“My pubis really hurts, but I wanted to be here after all the chaos,” he admitted.
