Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has been forced to pull out of today's Club World Cup semi-final against Guangzhou Evergrande in Yokohama.

The Argentine superstar is suffering from renal colic, a stomach pain often caused by kidney stones.

In a statement on their website, Barca said that "his future availability will depend on the outcome of further medical tests", with the final only three days away.

River Plate await the winner of today's semi, and if Barca go on to win the tournament they will become the first side to triumph on three separate occasions.

Written by
Pascal Lemesre