Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi will spend the next three weeks on the sidelines after suffering a groin injury in Barca's 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid.
The five-time World Player of the Year had only just returned from a groin injury, but the Argentine would succumb to the same injury once again.
Messi was forced off in the 59th minute after a challenge with Madrid's Diego Godin, and the substitution had immediate consequences for Luis Enrique's side.
Angel Correa cancelled out Ivan Rakitic's opener just one minute after Messi departed the pitch, and neither side could find an equaliser as the game finished 1-1.
"Without Leo we all lose. Football loses. We have to find solutions, knowing that with Messi we're very strong. We know that we have to win," Enrique said post match.
Messi will miss Barcelona's next match against Sporting Gijon on Saturday, and will also sit out of their UEFA Champions League match against Borussiaย Moenchengladbach midweek.
If Messi does only miss just the three weeks, he'll be back in time for his side's massive clash against Manchester City in the Champions League on October 19.
