FC Barcelona confirmed on Sunday that striker Leo Messi will be out of action for between two and three weeks as the result of the muscle injury he suffered in the first half of his side's 2-0 win in Almeria on Saturday.

The Argentinean had to leave the pitch after 28 minutes, eight minutes after opening the scoring with a typical left foot shot to net his eighth league goal of the campaign.

After scoring his goal Messi chased a long through ball and then made his way to the club's dugout complaining of problems in his right hamstring and shortly afterwards he abandoned the pitch to be replaced by Xavi Hernandez.

The club carried out tests on the injury back in Barcelona on Sunday morning and confirmed he has a slight injury in the fibers of his right hamstring and that the injury will leave him out of action for between two and three weeks.

That means Messi will miss this week's trip to play away to Glasgow Celtic in the Champions League and next weekend's home game against Valladolid in the BBVA Primera Liga in which Barca will look to extend their winning start to the league campaign to eight wins from eight matches.

However, the injury could turn out to be a blessing in disguise, because the Valladolid game is followed by a break for international football and Messi's injury will probably mean he does not have to travel to play for Argentina in their World Cup qualifying matches at home to Peru and away to Uruguay on October 11 and October 15.

Meanwhile if he completes his recovery in time Messi should then be available to play for Barca when they travel to face Osasuna four days later.

Argentina have already assured their place in next summer's World Cup finals and Barca will be very happy if their star player doesn't have to make a long trans-Atlantic flight and also face Uruguay in what is traditionally a south American grudge match.