Barcelona's Lionel Messi is suffering with renal colic, it was confirmed on Thursday. Subsequently, the forward was forced out of his team's game with Guangzhou Evergrande in the semi-final of the Club World Cup.
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Messi Out of Club World Cup Semi-Final
News of the problem, a pain caused by kidney stones, came via the Barcelona Twitter feed on Thursday:
[BREKING NEWS] Leo Messi, last minute absentee from the Club World Cup semi-final. The player has renal colic pic.twitter.com/GBKOeDoMx9
It is unclear whether the 28-year-old will be available for Sunday's final in Yokohama, should Barcelona qualify, where South American champions River Plate are waiting.