Messi missed Argentina’s friendly with Costa Rica on Tuesday after pulling up with pain in the adductor muscle of his right leg during the warm-up in San Jose.
Argentina’s medical and coaching staff did not want to take a chance with Messi, who is set for a pivotal month of April with Barcelona.
The leaders face Villareal on Saturday then have two Champions League quarter-final legs against Shakhtar Donetsk as well as a double ‘Clasico’ against Real Madrid – in the league and final