This archive report was first published on 5 August 2019.
Barcelona captain Lionel Messi has been ruled out of the team's pre-season tour in the United States after suffering a calf injury during training.
According to the La Liga champions, Messi experienced discomfort in his right leg during a training session on Monday and subsequent tests confirmed a grade one calf strain.
“Messi will remain in Barcelona… his availability to come back to action will be dictated by his recovery,” Barcelona said in a statement.
Barcelona is set to travel to the U.S. later on Monday, with two friendly matches scheduled against Italian Serie A side Napoli on August 7 (Miami) and 10 (Michigan).
Messi's absence from the tour comes after he was banned from international duty for three months and fined $50,000 for leveling accusations of “corruption” at South American soccer chiefs during last month’s Copa America.
