Barcelona icon Lionel Messi has been cleared to continue on international duty with the Argentina national team after he got the go ahead following scans on his right foot.
Messi played a stellar role in the defeat of Real Madrid on Sunday, providing the assist for Jeremy Mathieu which resulted in the opening goal of the match for the Catalans. The match finished 2-1 in favour of Luis Enrique’s side and they opened up a four-point gap at the top of La Liga as a result.
The 27-year-old picked up a knock in the Clasico due to which his participation in the Argentina national team for their upcoming friendly matches against El Salvador on 28th March and then against Ecuador on 31st March was put into question.
A statement released on Barcelona website has put to rest the speculation regarding his fitness, stating that the Argentina captain is fit to stay with the national team.
“FC Barcelona’s medical staff in consultation with their counterparts at the Argentine Football Federation confirm that the tests carried out on Leo Messi whilst on international duty with the Argentine national side in Washington D.C. show that he has no injury to his right foot where he received a blow in his last league match with the Blaugranes against Real Madrid.
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“The player will remain with Argentina to play in their upcoming friendly matches against El Salvador on 28 March and Ecuador on 31 March.”
Messi has been in spectacular form this season, having scored 43 times and assisted a further 25 goals in all competitions for Barcelona.
He led Argentina to the final of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil which they lost to Germany.
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