Argentine teenager Messi was ruled out for up to a month when he tore a right leg muscle in the first half of Barca's return with Chelsea in the last round of Europe's premier club competition on March 7.

According to El Mundo Deportivo newspaper's website on Monday, doctors have effectively scratched Messi's name from Frank Rijkaard's squad for Wednesday's match at the Nou Camp.

The news will come as a blow to Barcelona's fans, who watched agonisingly as the Catalans failed to hit the net despite having around 10 goalscoring chances against the Portuguese champions.