Here is why Lionel Messi was not named in Mauricio Pochettino's Paris Saint-Germain squad for their important UEFA Champions League match on Wednesday.
Despite the 34-year-old making a slow start to domestic football in France, he has scored three goals in three games in Europe so far this season.
The French giants, however, will be without the six-time Ballon d'Or winner for their clash against RB Leipzig on Wednesday due to injury, as confirmed by the club on Tuesday.
Messi is struggling with his left hamstring and a painful knee, and will therefore not be risked as PSG aim to stay top of Group A – the French giants have seven points, with second-placed Manchester City on six points.
Leipzig, meanwhile, have failed to pick up a single point from their three Champions League encounters in this campaign, with Messi inspiring PSG to a 3-2 comeback win over the Bundesliga side with a second-half brace in the French capital two weeks ago.
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"Every game has its own difficulties, we know tomorrow will be tough as Leipzig are a good team. We hope Messi will be back soon," Pochettino said of the ex-Barcelona captain's absence, according to First Post.
The Argentine has missed eight matches across all competitions this season due to fitness issues, which is the same number of games he was unavailable for in his last two years at Barca.
Click through the gallery below to see where Messi ranks among the highest-paid players at PSG:
