Paris Saint-Germain's Lionel Messi provides fitness update amid COVID-19 recovery

Lionel Messi has revealed that he has not fully recovered from coronavirus but has informed the Paris Saint-Germain supporters that he will be back on the pitch 'very soon'.

The 34-year-old was one of four players, along with Sergio Rico, Juan Bernat and Nathan Bitumazala, who contracted the virus over the Christmas period.

All four players missed the French Cup clash with Vannes as well as the top-flight battle against Lyon on Sunday, but PSG's medical team were hopeful that the quartet would return to first-team action this weekend.

Messi has since taken to Instagram to confirm that he has returned to training but his recovery process from COVID-19 has taken "longer than I thought".

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A post shared by Leo Messi (@leomessi)

Messi's post on Instagram reads: "As you know I had COVID and I wanted to thank you for all the messages I received and to tell you that it took longer than I thought to be well but I have almost recovered and I am really looking forward to getting back on the pitch.

"I have been training these days to get 100%, very beautiful challenges are coming this year and I hope we can see each other again very soon. Thanks!!!"

Messi is set to miss PSG's Ligue 1 fixture with Brest on Saturday night as well as Argentina's World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Colombia on January 28 and February 1.