Lionel Messi given early holiday; has he played his last game for Barcelona?

Barcelona confirmed on Friday that Lionel Messi will not play the final game of the La Liga season against Eibar on Saturday. Messi did not attend the training session with the rest of his teammates on the eve of their final fixture.

Coach Ronald Koeman allowed Lionel Messi to miss the game and take an early holiday, meaning the Barcelona legend might have played his last game for the Catalan club amid uncertainty over his future, according to Reuters.

Lionel Messi’s contract expires at the end of the ongoing season and the Argentina superstar has remained tight-lipped about a possible extension. He requested to leave the club last year and was linked by British and Spanish media with a move to Manchester City or Paris St Germain, but ultimately stayed put for one more season.

Should Messi not sign a new contract then his final game for the club would be last weekend’s dismal 2-1 defeat at the Camp Nou to Celta Vigo.

Messi has netted 30 times in La Liga this season and is set to win Spain’s Golden Boot – the Pichichi Trophy.

However, Barcelona haven’t managed to be at their best in the ongoing season. After having been knocked out of Champions League in the last 16 round, their earliest exit from the elite European competition in 14 years. The Catalans have also lost out of the title race in the league and can, at best, finish third in the league behind rivals Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid.

Barcelona, who have 76 points from 37 matches, take on Eibar on Saturday while Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid will be playing their final league games in a bid to win the title in the last-day thriller in La Liga.