Barcelona Superstar Lionel Messi To Undergo Kidney Procedure Today

Barcelona star Lionel Messi will undergo a procedure on today to treat kidney stones, but is still expected to be available for this weekend's visit of Celta Vigo.

The Argentina captain was absent from training on Monday, for which the club cited "personal reasons", suggesting he was a doubt to face Valencia in the second leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final on Wednesday.

And he is now certain to miss the Mestalla trip after it was revealed that he is undergoing surgery at the Clinica Dexeus today to treat the same kidney problem that affected him during the Club World Cup in December.

The procedure is understood to be minor, with Messi able to return home on the same day and expected back in training on Wednesday.