Barca’s Messi to miss Eibar game with ankle injury

BARCELONA: Barcelona forward Lionel Messi will miss Tuesday’s match at home to Eibar due to an ankle injury, the La Liga club said on Sunday.

Barca said in a statement that Messi, who is in the last year of his contract and is free to negotiate a move to rival clubs for free in 2021, is undergoing treatment on his right ankle and will return to training before their visit to Huesca on January 3.

The Argentine returned to his home city of Rosario via private jet immediately after scoring in Barca’s 3-0 win away to Real Valladolid on December 22.

Messi has started 17 of Barca’s 20 games in all competitions this season and although he is their top scorer with 10 goals, it has been his worst start to a campaign in 13 seasons in terms of goals and assists.