Lionel Messi has tested positive for COVID-19 and has entered self-isolation, his club Paris Saint-Germain announced on Sunday.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner was one of four PSG players to test positive for the virus ahead of the French Cup match against Vannes.
PSG said in a statement on Saturday night that a staff member also had Kovid-19. Neither of them were named at the time, but in another statement on the team’s medical news Sunday, the club left Messi, leaving behind Juan Bernat, backup goalkeeper Sergio Rico and 19-year-old midfielder Nathan Bitumzala.
PSG is playing in third-tier Venice.
Last year’s runners-up Monaco were in action in second-tier Quiville-Ruen on Sunday in one of 13 games scheduled for the day as the sides bid to reach the last 16.
Monaco said on Saturday that seven players had Covid-19, but none showed any worrying signs and are in isolation.
Meanwhile, France on Saturday reported 219,126 new confirmed Covid-19 cases in a 24-hour period, the fourth day in a row that the country recorded more than 200,000 cases.
France joins the United States, India, Brazil, Britain and Russia which had more than 10 million cases.
PSG top the Ligue 1 standings with 46 points from 19 matches, 13 points above second-placed Nice.
He is due to travel to third tier club Vannes on Monday for a French Cup round-of-32 match.
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