Madrid, Sep 27 (IANS): Football Club (FC) Barcelona have confirmed that their star player Lionel Messi will be out of action for between seven to eight weeks after damaging his ligaments in his left knee early in his side's 2-1 win at home to Las Palmas.

The Argentinean ace suffered a knock on his left knee in the fourth minute of the game and although he attempted to carry on after treatment he had to leave the pitch in the eighth minute to be replaced by young forward Munir, Xinhua news agency reported on Sunday.

He immediately underwent tests and shortly after the final whistle confirmed that Messi has suffered a torn internal collateral ligament, which will sideline him for around two months.

That means he will miss BBVA Primera Liga games against Sevilla, Rayo Vallecano, Eibar, Getafe and Villarreal and will be a major doubt for the first 'El-Clasico' of the season when Barca visit Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on November 21st.

He will also miss three Champions League group games, but should have recovered in time for the World Club Championship in December.

Messi's loss comes less than two weeks after Rafinha was ruled out for the entire season after breaking his cruciate knee ligament and two days after FIFA ruled out Barcelona's request to include Arda Turan in their squad to cover for his loss.

"I am sad whenever any player gets injured and even more so if it is Messi because of his importance in the team," Barcelona coach, Luis Enrique was quoted as saying.