Barcelona have left Lionel Messi out of their 19-man squad to face Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League on Tuesday.
The Argentine played the full 90 minutes of Barca's 1-0 defeat by Atletico Madrid on Saturday, but was not included in the list of players who will travel to the Ukraine for the Group G match.
Manager Ronald Koeman advised he has decided to rest Messi and midfielder Frenkie de Jong for the European tie because they are in a good position in their group but are struggling in 12th place in LaLiga.
The club cannot afford another injury after Gerard Pique and Sergi Roberto joined Ansu Fati and Samuel Umtiti in the long-term absentee list.
The superstar forward is due a rest after missing just 45 minutes of action in total for Barca this season and played all of both Argentina's games against Paraguay and Peru last week.
D10S_LM10
936
We will know how we play without him..
ronnie_luv
681
honestly, Good but risky decision by Koeman to have benched Messi, De Jong
Syd007
487
Finally the guy gets some rest after playing almost 40+ consecutive games. Nice move from Koeman, coz Messi can't afford to be rested in Laliga.
Keubmtuyz
424
hello guys, I just observed something which most of us have overlooked; For the first time, the main (4) captains will not be playing in a match that, technically we have not qualified or won (in case of league) infact, Non of the 4 [ Messi, Busquet, Pique and Sergi Roberto] will be on the bench This is just a pointer that, Barca is rebuilding and am glad about the future ( though we hope for the best for the present). Now, it's up to Marc-Terstegen to lead, because, he is the oldest in the team, not really by age, but by no of yrs spent the only down point is the absence of Ansu, he seems to be a leader in the front anyway, it's good like this, I wish Rinald koeman, all the best
Rohit_verma
386
BIG OPPORTUNITY TO HIM TO SHINE ♥️✨
TiyanjaneChalamwendo
321
a good test for Barcelona life without Messi...
MusengeEmmanuel
255
Barca fans after reading this😭😂
netranerayan
215
without messi and others valuable player... can griezmann shine.... this game... big opportunity for griezmann.....
Kucntuy
13
We will know how we play without him..
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he played 90 mins against Atletico nothing good came out....
RoyAbhinandan
8
Messi ass lickers are crying