Lionel Messi is not known for being injury-prone, but he has missed a few games for FC Barcelona throughout the years because of injury.
Overall, he has sat out just 58 games due to injury since making his debut in 2004.
His first big injury was a metatarsal fracture in November 2006, which is also his biggest injury to date. He missed 19 games in all competitions, of which Barcelona won just 10. They lost three of those matches in Messi's absence, among them the 2006 FIFA Club World Cup final.
The 28-year-old missed a further 17 games due to two injury absences the following season. This time around, the Catalans lost five matches and won just seven.
His next four injuries were all minor niggles that saw him miss only 11 games, all of which the club won, between 2010/11 and 2013/14.
Messi's last "big" spell on the sidelines came in 2013/14 when he tore a muscle and missed 11 games. Of these matches, Barcelona lost two and won the other nine.
As you can see, the Catalans usually cope quite well in the Argentine's absence. However, their squad was perhaps never as stretched as it currently is due to the transfer ban, and teething defensive problems only add to the club's woes.
Do you think Barcelona will cope well without Messi?
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Cheers,
David
