Barcelona’s Lionel Messi out 7-8 weeks with knee injury

Lionel Messi tore the internal collateral ligament in his left knee and will miss 7-8 weeks, the team announced.

Lionel Messi tore the internal collateral ligament in his left knee and will miss seven to eight weeks, the team announced.

In the opening moments of FC Barcelona’s game against Las Palmas on Saturday, Messi brought the ball in on goal and swung his left foot forward. A defender arrived to kick the ball in the opposite direction and made contact almost simultaneously. Messi then took a few steps and fell to he ground in pain. Trainers worked on his left knee and he walked off the field with some assistance.

Through five games in La Liga, Messi had three goals and two assists on 31 shots.

- Kenny Ducey