Javier Mascherano: 'Lionel Messi does not need a rest'

Barcelona midfielder Javier Mascherano has insisted that fellow Argentinian and club teammate Lionel Messi does not need a rest.

Former Argentine striker Mario Kempes had recently suggested that Messi has not been at his best of late and was in need of a period on the sideline, a claim which has been refuted by Mascherano.

"He scored the other day [against Real Sociedad] and he looks fine to me. The coach decides how much he needs to play. [Messi] helps us a lot. For the matter of rest, we have physios and a coach who take charge of that," Mascherano told reporters.

"He is a player who prefers playing to training. Every physique is different. If he plays every match, it's because he's in the condition to do so."

Mascherano could be part of the Barcelona side who entertain Valencia in the second leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final tie on Wednesday evening.