Barcelona

Lionel Messi absent from Barcelona International Champions Cup campaign

By Giuseppe Labellarte, Reporter | 23 July 2018

Argentina forward Lionel Messi is not in Barcelona's squad for their pre-season tour of the United States as he recovers from playing in the 2018 World Cup.

Lionel Messi has not been named in Barcelona's squad for their pre-season tour of the United States.

The 31-year-old has been given extra time to recover from the 2018 World Cup, even though Argentina were knocked out on June 30.

Messi made 54 appearances for Barca during the 2017-18 season as well as a further 11 appearances for the Albiceleste.

Barca travel to the States on Tuesday for the International Champions Cup, with the La Liga champions facing Tottenham Hotspur, Roma and AC Milan over the next 10 days.

📋 SQUAD LIST!
⚽ FC Barcelona US Tour 2018
🔵🔴 #TheMagiciansOfTheBall pic.twitter.com/lQggbXmeOU
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) July 23, 2018

Spain's Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets are also absent, alongside Samuel Umtiti, Luis Suarez, Philippe Coutinho, Ousmane Dembele and Ivan Rakitic.

Germany international goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen will sit out an opening clash with Tottenham on Saturday, but will join up with the squad in Dallas for a meeting with Roma on July 31.