DHAKA: Barcelona must do without the services of four-time World Player of the Year Lionel Messi for between six to eight weeks, the club said Monday.

The Argentina ace limped off after 19 minutes of Barcelona`s win at Real Betis Sunday and the worst fears of the fans were confimed by a statement on their website.

"The club`s medical services confirmed after tests this Monday morning that Leo Messi has a torn hamstring muscle in his left thigh," it read.

"The first phase of Messi`s recovery will be covered in Barcelona and he will then travel to Buenos Aires," it added.

It is the third time that Messi has been sidelines, suffering a bruised thigh in the Spanish Super Cup match against Atletico Madrid on August 21, which kept him out for a week.

The second, more serious injury, came against Almeria on September 28 where he suffered a small muscle tear in his right thigh, meaning he missed three weeks.

His absences have not prevented Barcelona from making a storming start to their La Liga programme with 37 points from 13 games and they have already qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League.

Source: CNN
BDST: 1058 HRS, NOV 12, 2013
MR/RoR/BSK