It is the question everyone is asking. With Saturday's highly-anticipated clash between Real Madrid vs Barcelona right around the corner, fans of the Catalan giants wonder whether Lionel Messi will be fit in time for El Clasico.
The Argentine has missed 9 games for the Blaugrana since injuring his knee in September, but talk of a return in the Santiago Bernabeu trip has been hyped up in recent weeks.
Will the 28-year-old Argentine make the Blancos tie? Here is everything you need to know, plus how the events leading up to El Clasico unfolded.
Sept. 26: Where El Clasico worries all began
It was in Barcelona’s home clash with Las Palmas, which they won 2-1, where the fear of Messi missing El Clasico all began.
In the Blaugrana’s fifth Liga BBVA game of the season, the Argentine fell to a first-half injury, tearing the internal collateral ligament in his left knee, setting up a predicted two-month lay-off.
Sept. 28: Leo admits injury frustration…
The Argentine took to Facebook to thank everyone for the tremendous support he received, admitting that it is “the hardest thing” being away from the pitch.
Muchas gracias a todos por los mensajes de apoyo. Para cualquiera que ama el fútbol, lo más difícil es no poder jugar....
Posted by Leo Messi on Monday, September 28, 2015
but could he be fit in time for the Bernabeu trip?
Two days after Messi’s injury, Spanish news outlet SPORT reported that the 28-year-old could make a return in 7 weeks, rather than 8, meaning he would be fit in time for their trip to Bernabeu on November 21.
Oct. 14: La Pulga “recovering”
The four-time Ballon d’Or winner took to Facebook to update fans on his road to recovery.
Posted by Leo Messi on Wednesday, October 14, 2015
¡Seguimos recuperando!Recovering!- LIO
Nov. 2: Setback on the road to recovery?
Again, Sport dropped a Lionel Messi injury bombshell, this time claiming that the 28-year-old had suffered a setback and would thus miss El Clasico.
Messi has suffered a set-back and will not be ready in time to play El Clásico. [Sport]
— Real Madrid Info (@RMadridInfo) November 2, 2015
Nov. 10: Leo back with the ball at his feet
La Liga's all-time record scorer begins to touch the ball and run again, entering phase three of his recovery.
Nov. 11: Argentina doctor warns against rushing Messi back from injury
Argentina doctor Homero de Agostino warned Luis Enrique against rushing Messi back from injury for El Clasico, insisting that it could result in “relapse”.
“The risk of a relapse if Messi plays the Clasico is high.
“A Coach can’t rely on a player who has just recovered to play in a showdown like the Clasico.
“Messi may make progress in working with the ball but never to play a Clasico within the next 15 days.”
Nov. 16: Messi makes return to first-team training
The Argentine was all smiles, as he rejoined Suarez and Co. in their first pre-Clasico training session.
Messi was present during the training session this Monday in a week of preparations for El Clásico #EMWYC pic.twitter.com/6ZE8gZ4NdF
— MESSISTATS (@MessiStats) November 16, 2015
Nov. 17: La Pulga's Clasico boots revealed
Speculation of Messi's Clasico return hit overdrive when pics of the new Adidas boots for the Bernabeu trip were revealed.
The pic of Messi's new Adidas boots for El Clasico
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Nov. 18: Suarez all but confirms Messi' Clasico availability
The Uruguayan striker stated in a press-conference: "We don't yet know if Messi will start or be on bench."
Suarez in press conference just now: "We dont yet know if Messi will start [Clasico] or be on bench."
— Dermot Corrigan (@dermotmcorrigan) November 18, 2015
There is no denying that Messi's return will be a huge boost for the squad. However, one interesting aspect to look out for is how his return may affect the lovely Suarez-Neymar partnership.
MSN scored a record 122 goals last season in all competition, and in the Argentine's absence, the Uruguayan and Brazilia flourished, despite faltering at first.
Infographic: Barcelona trios with most goals in a single season #fcblive (goals/games) [fcb] pic.twitter.com/o40WwT17VM
— barcastuff (@barcastuff) November 12, 2015
Suarez and Neymar have combined well without the Barcelona number 10, netting 14 times in La Liga alone, with 6 and 8 goals respectively. However, reintroduce Leo into the mix, and that perfect combination may deteriorate.
Of course, all of this will become clear when Barcelona lock horns with Real Madrid.
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