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According to FIFA’s official website, Lionel Messi has said that he will not show any hastiness in his recovery process from a knee ligament tear.
Both, Messi’s country and club, have huge games coming up. Argentina are to face Brazil in a FIFA World Cup qualifier match on November 13, and Barcelona travel to Madrid for El Clasico on November 21.
Messi was ruled out for a period of 7-8 weeks after he suffered a tear in his medial collateral ligament in the initial stages of Barcelona’s home game against Las Palmas, on 26 September. Though, it is believed that if his rehabilitation process goes according to the plans, he might just get ready in time to face his team’s perennial rivals, Real Madrid.
The four-time Ballon D’Or winner was talking to Yahoo Sports as he mentioned that he won’t rush through his recovery.
The Argentine said, "Being injured is the worst feeling in the world for a sportsman, but right from the start I accepted that I had an injury and that the only thing to do was to recover from it the best way possible.”
"The most important thing for me is to be at 100 percent fitness. I am improving every day without setting myself any targets. I have always said that I don't set myself any dates because it isn't up to me. As much as I would like to play tomorrow, the doctors wouldn't let me. When they tell me that I have recovered completely will be the time that I will make my return onto the pitch."
He was also quizzed about how he is with his friends and surroundings when injured, to which he replied, “As I said, the truth is I knew I was injured right from the start, and although at first you are obviously worried, after the diagnosis and all the repercussions emanating from the injury you understand that you have to be patient. I don’t think it was difficult for me to accept and take on board.”
Barcelona and Argentina in particular, have struggled his Messi injury
The Catalan club is riding on Neymar’s form since Messi’s injury. Barcelona lost a league match against Sevilla, but they have won rest of their fixtures, without the Argentine talisman. Neymar has either scored or made all eight goals scored in their last three matches.
However, Argentina is going through a rough patch without their superstar. They have amassed just the one point from their opening fixtures of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. A 2-0 home defeat against Ecuador and a 0-0 draw against Paraguay in the second match has put a huge dent on their qualification campaign. With games against Brazil and Colombia next, they need to step up their game.
Barcelona and Argentina will be without the services of Lionel Messi at least until the third week of November.
