Messi Wears Plaster of Paris after Injury

The first images have emerged of Lionel Messi donning a sling to protect his broken hand.

He was pictured with his wife Antonella Roccuzzo and team-mates Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho.

Despite being sidelined for potentially three weeks, however, the four-time Ballon d’Or winner appeared in good spirits, despite hearing the news he will be sidelined for three weeks.

The injury comes amid a run of hugely important fixtures for Ernesto Valverde’s men, starting with Inter Milan in the Champions League on Wednesday.

He is also set to miss Sunday’s El Clasico and the return leg against Italian outfit in Milan.

Following last Saturday’s game, Messi was taken to the clinic at Barcelona’s training ground and the club were hopeful the injury was nothing more than a ‘hyper-extension’ around his right elbow.

But the club’s initial hopes were dashed when the prognosis came back he had fractured the arm, which could potentially see him miss six games.

The 31-year-old has once again been in sensational form this season having already scored 12 goals in all competitions, more than double the next-best tally – Ousmane Dembele with five.

Demebele, Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho must now shoulder the brunt of the goal-scoring burden in Messi’s absence, starting with Inter’s visit to the Nou Camp on Wednesday evening.