Lionel Messi and Barcelona suffered a potentially huge blow on Saturday.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner had already assisted and scored inside 12 minutes to put La Blaugrana 2-0 up against Sevilla at the Camp Nou, but had to be substituted before half-time with an apparent arm injury sustained in an awkward fall.
The 31-year-old departed the pitch with his right arm heavily strapped, and his availability for next Sunday’s El Clasico bout with Real Madrid could now be in doubt.
It initially looked as though Messi and Barcelona’s medical staff would attempt to gauge whether he could continue, but the Argentinian star was ultimately withdrawn from action, seemingly in significant discomfort.
Though he appeared as a substitute in the draw with Athletic Bilbao at the end of last month, Messi has not missed a game for Barcelona since the madcap 5-4 defeat to Levante in May in the penultimate fixture of last season.
Barcelona, who had been winless in four La Liga games before Saturday, host Inter Milan in the Champions League before welcoming Real to Camp Nou.
Should Messi miss the latter clash, it will be the …read more