Lionel Messi has been ruled out of the Champions League fixture between Paris Saint-Germain and Benfica on Tuesday, October 11, 2022.
PSG have confirmed that the 35-year-old Argentina star will miss Tuesday night’s Champions League clash with Benfica due to a calf injury.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner picked up the injury during PSG’s away match against Benfica in Portugal last week, where he scored in a 1-1 draw.
The Argentine’s world-class strike at Estadio da Luz had put PSG in the lead against Benfica before the host hit back through Danilo Pereira’s own goal in the wee minute before the end of the first half.
The 35-year-old PSG star couldn’t manage to last the full match in the strive to paddle his side to victory as he was taken off the pitch in the 81st minute.
The Argentina national team forward was also absent in Saturday’s Ligue 1 draw against Reims in which PSG went on a drought of goals in the league for the first time and also the second time the French club dropped points in Ligue 1 this season.
The club has confirmed that Lionel Messi has not yet recovered enough to compete against Benfica as PSG aims to claim three points over their upcoming opponents Benfica, in Group H.
A club statement read: “Nursing a calf niggle, Lionel Messi will not make the game against Benfica.”
Likewise, Presnel Kimpenbe, Renato Sanches, and Nuno Mendes have also been ruled out to miss the Champions League fixture between PSG and Benfica at Parc Des Princes.
However, PSG head coach, Christophe Galtier, in a pre-match press conference has stated that he is hopeful Lionel Messi will feature in the derby against Marseille this weekend.
PSG manager, Galtier said: “Leo Messi felt discomfort in the calf during the match at Benfica.
“It is very likely that he will play against Marseille on Sunday.”
No doubt the seven-time ballon d’Or is enjoying another best moments of his football career in his second season with the reigning French champions after he joined from Barcelona on a free transfer in 2021.
In his opening season with Paris Saint-German, Lionel Messi chipped in 11 goals and provided 15 assists in 34 appearances across all competitions.
Similarly, the 35-year-old Argentine superstar has continued with his stunning form and he’s been instrumental in several PSG’s victories; scoring eight goals and creating many assists in 13 matches across all competitions this season.
It’s believed that Messi’s absence caused PSG to fail to produce a goal over the weekend as the French giants were held to a goalless draw by Reims in Ligue 1.
Currently, PSG sit top of the Group H table on goal difference ahead of Champions League rival Benfica, with both clubs having seven points while Juventus have three points and Maccabi Haifa have no point.
When is Lionel Messi likely to return?
PSG will hope that Lionel Messi fully recovers from his calf injury soon, enabling him to get back into action in the Ligue 1 match against Marseille on October 16.
