Barcelona star Lionel Messi travels to Argentina despite having hamstring injury

Barcelona have confirmed that Lionel Messi has been given the green light to travel to Argentina for the upcoming internationals even though the Ballon D'or ended Sunday's victory over Athletic Club Bilbao with discomfort in his left hamstring.

Paris Saint Germain star Javier Pastore, and Sergio Aguero have been withdrawn from international duties due to injuries, with the Manchester City striker sustaining a muscular injury during the Premier League 3-1 victory over West Ham United on 28 August.

Messi, 29, helped Barcelona make two wins from their opening two La Liga games with a 1-0 victory over the Basque side on (Sunday) 28 August thanks to Ivan Rakitic's first-half header, pitting Real Madrid and Las Palmas at the top of the table. The Argentine star played the full 90 minutes after forming the attack along Luis Suarez and Arda Turan, following Luis Enrique's gift to Neymar of an extended break following participation in the Rio Olympics.

However, Messi set alarms bells ringing ahead of the coming World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay on September 1, and against Venezuela on the 6th, after it emerged that he ended the victory over Athletic with a slight injury to his pubis.

Barcelona have now ruled it out as a serious problem through an official statement, but added that it is still uncertain whether he will be able to play for Argentina in the coming internationals.

"The player is travelling to Argentina with a medical report approved by FC Barcelona and the Argentine FA and his presence in his country's World Cup qualifying matches will depend on how the injury develops," the club announced. "A report on tests performed on Monday, and as approved by the FC Barcelona Medical Services and the Argentinian Football Association, has confirmed that Leo Messi has hurt his left hamstring. The player is travelling to Argentina to join the national team for World Cup qualifying matches at home to Uruguay and away to Venezuela, and his presence in those matches will depend on how the injury develops."

It will be Messi's first call-up since the Barcelona superstar announced his decision to retire from international football following the Copa America final defeat to Chile in June – only to backtrack on comments made two months later by announcing his return to the national team.

Meanwhile, the Argentinian Football Association have confirmed that Messi's compatriots Pastore and Aguero have both pulled out of the squad due to injuries. The City striker sustained an injury during the 3-1 victory over West Ham, and also faces the possibility of a retrospective action by the FA for an alleged elbow on Winston Reid.