Messi potentially out of La Liga opener

BARCELONA captain Lionel Messi has been potentially ruled out of the opening match of the La Liga after picking up an injury during pre season training.

In a post on the star’s Instagram page, he explained: “I wanted to get started and unfortunately I had a mishap during the first training session which will keep me out of action for a while,”

“Tests carried out have diagnosed a grade one calf strain,” he continued.

Experts recommend that an injury like this will require two weeks recuperation which means his presence in the season opener on August 16 is in doubt.

Barcelona are due to travel to the States this Wednesday to play a friendly with Italian team Napoli in Miami, however Messi will stay in Spain to speed up the healing process.

Barcelona’s league campaign will kick off against Atletico Bilbao.