Barcelona star Lionel Messi taken to hospital after knee injury sustained 10

Messi was taken to hospital for tests and Barcelona later confirmed via a club statement that he could be missing for as much as two months with a ligament tear.

Spanish television showed images of Messi leaving the hospital with a limp as he got into a vehicle.

Aside from 2013/14 when he missed several, he’s spent most of the last six seasons injury free.

After the match, Barca announced that Messi was facing an extended spell on the sidelines. “He will be out for around 7-8 weeks”.

Barcelona bounced back from their recent defeat at the hands of Celta Vigo with a 2-1 victory at home to Las Palmas.

The Argentinian, who has been injury-free since a hamstring problem in November 2013, initially tried to continue but was soon replaced by Munir El Haddadi.

Barcelona looked like opening the scoring after just four minutes of play when Messi’s sublime first touch sent him clear, but a last-ditch tackle from Pedro Bigas was just enough to keep the Argentine’s attempt out. He twisted his knee while attempting a shot.

Luis Suarez scored both goals against newly-promoted Las Palmas, netting in the 25th and 54th minutes. Neymar curled a pass to Munir on the right wing and he cut inside before playing it into the area where Sergio Busquets dummied, allowing Suarez to find the back of the net.

Barca were then presented with a glorious change to make it 3-0 when Antolin Alcaraz handballed in the box, only for the newly-bald Neymar to blaze over from 12 yards.