OKOHAMA, Japan — Lionel Messi could still play for Barcelona in Sunday's Club World Cup final.
The Argentina forward missed Friday's training, and was absent from the 3-0 semifinal win over Guangzhou Evergrande with renal colic, a type of abdominal pain commonly attributed to kidney stones.
"All the situations are open. What the manager (Luis Enrique) said is that we have to evaluate, hour after hour, how he is feeling," Barcelona media officer Chemi Teres said. "I don't know if it is renal colic or kidney stones, or something else in this area."
Neymar's prospects of playing in the final against Argentine club River Plate appear to be improving.
Barcelona won't rule Messi out for Club World Cup final
FC Barcelona's Neymar, left, warms up with team staff member during a training session ahead of Sunday's final of the FIFA Club World Cup soccer tournament in Yokohama, near Tokyo. AP/Shuji Kajiyama