FC Barcelona doctors are checking Lionel Messi’s injury, the World’s best footballer in critical condition.

Barcelona  Argentinian forward Lionel Messi was carried off on a stretcher with what appeared to be a serious knee injury near the end of Barcelona’s Group G match at home to Benfica.

The Argentinian World Player of the Year collapsed to the ground clutching his left knee after colliding with Benfica goalkeeper Artur and looked to be in severe discomfort as he was taken from the pitch.

Barca said on their Twitter feed he had suffered bruising on the outside of the knee and would undergo further tests to determine the extent of the damage.

Club doctor Richard Pruna will then decide, along with the player and his coach Tito Vilanova, if he can train normally on Saturday and then travel to Seville for Sunday night’s match with fourth placed Betis.

The Nou Camp were calling for Messi just before the half time whistle of last night’s draw with Benfica and Villanova gave in to their demands early in the second half only for the No 10 to go down holding the back of his knee five minutes from time.

Drama was heightened when the player was carted to the far corner of the ground, because the electronic car carrying his stretcher wouldn’t fit down the tunnel, and whisked away for tests.

Messi suffered several long-term injuries at the start of his Barcelona career but has not broken down since March 2008 when he injured a thigh muscle against Celtic keeping him out for six weeks.

His four years under Pep Guardiola were almost injury-free with the then Barcelona coaching bringing in podiatrists and dieticians to help prevent injuries.

Now everyone is waiting anxiously Messi’s the results will be announced tomorrow

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