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Barcelona's Lionel Messi out 6 to 8 weeks with another leg injury

The Associated Press Published Monday, November 11, 2013 9:12AM EST

Barcelona's Lionel Messi from Argentina sits on the field during his team's La Liga soccer match against Betis at the Benito Villamarin stadium, in Seville, Spain on Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013. (AP / Angel Fernandez)

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BARCELONA, Spain -- Barcelona says Lionel Messi will be sidelined for six to eight weeks because of his third leg injury of the season.

The Argentina forward hurt his left leg in Barcelona's 4-1 victory at Real Betis on Sunday and medical exams on Monday showed he needs a recovery period of up to two months.

Messi has been plagued by nagging muscle problems since the end of last season.

The 26-year-old star missed several weeks last month because of a right thigh problem after first hurting his left thigh in August. He was sidelined at the end of last season with a hamstring pull.

Also, Barcelona says midfielder Cesc Fabregas will need one week to recover from a right knee injury, forcing him to miss Spain's friendlies against Guinea and South Africa.