- Lionel Messi has no issues with being rested under Ernesto Valverde
- He was benched for Barcelona's final Champions League group game against Sporting
- Messi says his body is beginning to tell him he can no longer play every match
Lionel Messi has given his thoughts on his latest Barcelona bench role under Ernesto Valverde.
The Argentine has admitted that 'sometimes not playing is for the best' as he tries to adapt his aging body to a full season.
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He has been dropped to the bench for each of the Catalans' final two Champions League group games against Juventus and Sporting Lisbon and has no issues with that.
Lionel Messi on the bench against Sporting Lisbon. Photo: AS
"I have learned that the season is long, that there are times which are harder than others because the years fly by and now my body pays the price for playing in so many matches," he told TyC Sports.
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"I realised that sometimes not playing is for the best."
But Messi will once again go head to head with Cristiano Ronaldo for the Ballon d'Or on Thursday, December 7.
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Source: Sports.naija.ng
ROSY CREST
Thursday, 7 December 2017