LIONEL MESSI WAS struck in the head by a bottle as the Barcelona players celebrated Sergio Busquets’ stoppage-time winning goal against Valencia on Sunday night.
The Argentine star had played a part in creating the goal after his cross had found Neymar, whose header was saved before Busquets lashed home the rebound to seal a 1-0 win in the 94th minute.
Barca players enthusiastically celebrated the goal and soon jumped on the midfielder near the corner flag after he had slid to the ground in celebration, at which point Messi was hit by the object thrown from a section of the home support.
As the away players began heading back to the centre circle following the goal, Messi was still down on the ground clutching and rubbing his head before being helped up by Rafinha, at which point he picked up the bottle with which he had been struck and threw it off the pitch.
The 27-year-old then rushed to the referee and protested while holding his head, only to be shown a yellow card with the official believing he was trying to waste time.
The final whistle blew just seconds after the re-start and Messi hugged a few of his team-mates before stopping to receive treatment from the onrushing physio, with a cut already evident on his forehead.
The attacker continued to rub his head and returned to the referee in a second attempt to explain what had taken place before he left the field of play holding a tissue to his head, giving the home support an ironic thumbs-up as he entered the tunnel.
