Newly crowned FIFA Best Player, Lionel Messi, was forced-off in his first start for Barcelona this season.
The 32-year-old had previously made two substitute appearances, after missing four matches with a calf injury.
The club’s captain was substituted at half-time with a muscular pain in his 400th La Liga start in the champions’ 2-1 narrow win against Villarreal at Camp Nou on Tuesday.
The Argentine missed the Catalans’ first four league matches of the season with a calf problem, before returning for a 30-minute appearance from the bench in the Champions League against Borussia Dortmund last week.
Read Also: Eagles’ Chukwueze Nominated For European Golden Boy Award
He again had to come off the bench in the second half of Barcelona’s 2-0 defeat to Granada last Saturday.
The reigning world best player then finally made his first start of the season against the yellow submarines, but he only played 45 minutes, and was replaced by Ousmane Dembele at half-time, with the hosts already leading 2-1.
He received a knock to his left leg in the first half, and received treatment. However, coach Enersto Valverde decided to take him off after a second assessment of the injury.
The Camp Nou side went on to win the match 2-1, with Arthur Melo’s stunner from long range proving to be the winner.
Read Also: Keyamo Reveals Reason For His Ministerial Redeployment
The game marked the highly anticipated debut of the club’s new attacking trio of Messi, Luis Suarez and Antoine Griezmann.
They went ahead early in the game with Griezmann putting them ahead, after heading home a corner kick from Messi.
But former Arsenal star, Santi Carzola, halfed the deficit on the stroke of half-time to put their opponent under pressure.
The Catalans have now recorded three wins, two defeats and one draw in the league so far.
They will hope that the injury will not keep their talisman out for a long time.
Discussion about this post