Lionel Messi is almost certain to miss the Champions League final against Arsenal on May 17 with the muscle injury that has sidelined him for nearly two months.

The Argentinian has only "a two percent possibility" of recovering in time to play in Paris, El Pais newspaper quoted an unnamed member of Barcelona's medical staff as saying. "There are no miracles with this type of injury," he added.

The teenager, who returned to Barcelona on Saturday after a week's rest in Argentina, tore muscle fibres in his right thigh in the Champions League game against Chelsea on March 7. He aggravated the injury in training last month and has been warned not to rush his recovery. "If he's in too much of a hurry, he'll miss the World Cup," added the member of Barcelona's medical staff.