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Unwell Messi misses Club World Cup semi

 Barcelona forward Lionel Messi (2nd R) trains with his teammates at the Club World Cup football tournament in Yokohama on December 15, 2015. PHOTO/AFP

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi (2nd R) trains with his teammates at the Club World Cup football tournament in Yokohama on December 15, 2015. PHOTO/AFP

JAPAN, December 17 – Barcelona forward Lionel Messi will miss Thursday’s Club World Cup semi-final against China’s Guangzhou Evergrande in Yokohama because of abdominal pain, the Spanish club said.

The Argentine wizard, who returned last month after a lengthy knee injury, is suffering from renal colic, a problem commonly caused by kidney stones.

“His future availability will depend on the outcome of further medical tests,” said a statement on Barcelona’s website.

Messi had appeared in good spirits since Barca arrived in Japan on Monday, joking with team-mates and signing autographs for local fans who turned out in their hundreds to watch their idols train.

Brazilian striker Neymar, who has been in a rich vein of form this season, will also miss the game as he recovers from a groin strain suffered in Barca’s European Champions League clash at Bayer Leverkusen earlier this month.

Luis Suarez, the third member of Barcelona’s vaunted strike-force, starts.

European champions Barcelona are attempting to become the first side to win the Club World Cup three times.

The Catalan giants beat Argentina’s  2-1 in 2009 and thrashed Brazil’s Santos 4-0 two years later.

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