Ernesto Valverde: 'Lionel Messi starting to look tired'

Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde has confessed that superstar forward Lionel Messi is beginning to feel tired after games following his heroics with the Argentina national side.

The 30-year-old has already played the full 90 minutes on four occasions for club and country combined in October, including against Atletico Madrid on Saturday night when helping Barca to a 1-1 draw at the Wanda Metropolitano.

Messi bagged a hat-trick for Argentina three days earlier to rescue his side's World Cup hopes, but Valverde admits that it has come at somewhat of a cost as his star player is feeling fatigued at this early stage of the season.

"I agree that Leo is tired after the games he's had to play, but we know he'll always respond in any situation," he told reporters. "We know how much fear he instils in the opposing players and fans."

Messi has scored 13 goals in La Liga and the Champions League combined so far this season, while also chipping in with a couple of assists.