PSG forward Lionel Messi suffers a bone injury

Lionel Messi has been ruled out of Paris Saint-Germain’s match against Montpelier on Saturday as he has not fully recovered from a bone bruise, the Ligue 1 club said on Friday.

A club statement on Tuesday read: “Lionel Messi, following the knock received on his left knee, has undergone an MRI this morning which confirms the signs of bone contusion, a replacement assessment are going to be made in 48 hours.”

Messi suffered a play on his left knee, and an MRI scan earlier in the week confirmed signs of a bone contusion. He missed PSG’s 2-1 victory at Metz on Wednesday. “We had seen that Messi was touching his knee. I’m very proud of what he did during the match [against Lyon]. After 75 minutes, taking under consideration the knowledge we had, we made the choice [to bring him off].

Messi, who joined the French giants from Barcelona on a free transfer this summer, has did not contribute an assist or goal in his first four matches for his new club.

When asked about Messi’s situation at a press conference, PSG manager Mauricio Pochettino replied: “The club has already communicated Leo’s situation and it’s clear.

“Leo has started running today,” PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino said at a press conference on Friday. “On Sunday we’ll be ready to give an update. We hope everything will go well which he is going to be available again [for the sport vs. Man City].”

“Messi may be a great champion, and like all great champions, he didn’t want to return off. I’m proud of his commitment and his performance. He hasn’t scored yet, but he played alright .”

PSG added that midfielder Marco Verratti will return to training on Sunday, while defender Sergio Ramos, who has yet to form his club debut, continues to coach individually as he recovers from a calf injury.

The club is top of the Ligue 1 standings with an ideal win record from seven games.

The Argentina international is additionally likely to miss the league game against Montpellier on Saturday, but PSG is hopeful he will return to action for the trip to the Etihad.

PSG was held to a shock draw at Club Brugge in their Champions League opener last week.

Paris Saint-Germain lined up with Neymar, Lionel Messi, and Kylian Mbappe during attack for the second time in a week, but it had been Mauro Icardi who saved their 100% winning record in Ligue 1 against Lyon, heading a 93rd-minute winner to form it six from six for Mauricio Pochettino’s side.

The win will disguise another disappointing night for PSG’s front three, following on from their debut during a 1-1 Champions League draw against Club Brugge. Messi was the pick within the half, twice drawing saves from Lyon’s Anthony Lopes and hitting the woodwork with a free-kick. Mbappe perhaps rushed back from a knock picked up in Belgium, was more subdued, while Neymar won and converted a penalty.

Pinochet then dared to require off Messi, who didn’t look pleased. But the coach’s changes proved effective, with substitute Icardi finding space within the box to attach with Mappe’s cross and maintain PSG’s perfect start. — source news ESPN