Barca clears Messi to play in World Cup qualifier

[June 07, 2013]  BARCELONA, Spain (AP) -- Lionel Messi has been cleared by Barcelona's team doctors to play in Argentina's World Cup qualifiers against Colombia and Ecuador.

Messi pulled his right hamstring on April 2. He aggravated the same injury a few weeks later, sidelining him for the final three weeks of the Spanish league season.

After hosting Colombia on Friday, Argentina travels to Ecuador for another qualifier on Tuesday.

Argentina leads the South American qualifying group for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

[Associated Press]

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