There was good news for Lionel Messi yesterday afternoon: after three-months out of the pitch due to a left foot injury, the Argentinian player was finally back to a FC Barcelona squad, as coach Frank Rijkaard decided to include him in the list for this Sunday’s La Liga game against Racing Santander. Messi will not feature in the starting line-up, but is ready to come onto the pitch in the second half in front of his club’s home crowd.

These are the 18 players called up by Rijkaard: Valdés, Jorquera, Puyol, Giuly, Edmilson, Xavi, Gio, Saviola, Eto’o, Oleguer, Deco, Iniesta, Zambrotta, Belletti, Márquez, Motta, Messi and Ronaldinho.