Lionel Messi out three weeks with right groin strain

Lionel Messi is expected to miss three weeks after straining a groin muscle during Barcelona’s match on Wednesday.

Lionel Messi is expected to miss three weeks after straining a groin muscle during Barcelona’s match on Wednesday, the club announced.

Messi left an eventual 1–1 draw against Atlético Madrid in the 59th with the injury to his right leg. The team initially called it a right adductor rupture. Barcelona also saw midfielder Sergio Busquets go off minutes earlier. Angel Correa equalized for Atlético shortly afterward.

The Blaugrana sit third in La Liga with 10 points through five matches.

📡 Luis Enrique: "To lose Messi means that football loses. With Messi we are stronger, but we will continue being strong". #FCBlive pic.twitter.com/ZLTdCGE1JS

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) September 21, 2016

The international subtext here is that Messi could miss two World Cup qualifiers for Argentina. The national team is scheduled to face Peru and Paraguay on Oct. 7 and 11, respectively.