Barcelona's Argentine forward Lionel Messi will be sidelined for six weeks after tearing a muscle in his left thigh, the club said on Wednesday.

Barcelona's Lionel Messi lies injured on the pitch during their Champions League first knockout round, second leg soccer match against Celtic in Barcelona March 4, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Messi will miss both legs of his side's Champions League quarter-final tie at the start of April, up to seven Primera Liga matches and the return leg of the King's Cup semi-final against Valencia.

Messi sustained the injury just before halftime of his side's 1-0 Champions League win over Celtic at the Nou Camp on Tuesday.

It is the fourth time in the last three years that the 20-year-old has suffered a similar injury and he was sidelined for five weeks earlier this season with the same problem.