Messi Will Be Absent Against Lyon, Still Recovering From COVID-19

JAKARTA - It is confirmed that Lionel Messi will not play when PSG travel to Olympique Lyon in a Ligue 1 match on Monday, January 10, the French club said in an announcement. Reported by Antara, Saturday, January 8, Messi is said to be continuing his recovery after being exposed to COVID-19 in the new year after returning from his holiday in Argentina. The Argentine forward returned to Paris from his home country after testing negative, but has not been allowed to play. "Lionel Messi will continue his individual post-COVID protocols in the coming days," PSG said in a statement. quoted by Reuters.

The 34-year-old was one of several players who tested positive for COVID-19 during the Ligue 1 winter break. PSG said Angel Di Maria, Julian Draxler, Danilo Pereira, Gianluigi Donnarumma and Layvin Kurzawa were still in quarantine after testing positive for the virus. "It's always difficult to choose the right team, COVID or without COVID," PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino said at a news conference on Saturday. His team lead the table with 46 points from 19 games, 10 above second-placed Olympique de Marseille.