Lionel Messi ruled out for up to 8 weeks after Barcelona star suffers collateral ligament tear against Las Palmas
Lionel Messi could be out for up to eight weeks after suffering a knee injury just minutes into Barcelona's match with Las Palmas on Saturday.
A wincing Messi asked to be substituted in the eighth minute after hurting his left knee during Barcelona's Spanish league match against Las Palmas on Saturday.
The Argentinian international went down after colliding with Las Palmas defender Pedro Bigas in the third minute.
Following medical attention, the Barcelona star went back on, but two minutes later asked to be replaced.
Messi was taken to the nearby Clínica Cruz Blanca hospital, where tests confirmed he had torn the collateral ligament in his left knee.
Barcelona's key man was later videoed limping out of hospital and back into a car.
Munir El Haddadi went on for the four-time Ballon D'or winner in front of a quiet Nou Camp crowd.
Barcelona manager Luis Enrique said: 'Injuries are the worst thing in football and it carries a special weight when it’s Messi.
'It’s a big challenge for our club. It's great news for our rival but for us it’s a test and we have to accept it and overcome it.
'We will play exactly the same way. We have a lot of players of great quality.'
Barcelona tweeted: ‘Messi has a tear in the internal collateral ligament of his left knee. He will be out for around 7-8 weeks.'
Messi was limited by a persistent series of hamstring injuries during 2013, but returned to his best form last season and scored 58 goals.
The 28-year-old Messi led Barcelona to a sweep of the Champions League, Spanish league and Copa del Rey titles last campaign.
Messi is Barcelona's all-time goalscorer and has scored more goals in the Spanish league than any other player.