Lionel Messi scored the only goal of the game in his last outing to help Barcelona to an eight point lead over second-placed Atletico Madrid. Pau Barrena / AFP
Lionel Messi scored the only goal of the game in his last outing to help Barcelona to an eight point lead over second-placed Atletico Madrid. Pau Barrena / AFP
Lionel Messi scored the only goal of the game in his last outing to help Barcelona to an eight point lead over second-placed Atletico Madrid. Pau Barrena / AFP
Lionel Messi scored the only goal of the game in his last outing to help Barcelona to an eight point lead over second-placed Atletico Madrid. Pau Barrena / AFP

Lionel Messi to miss Barcelona's match against Malaga for 'personal reasons'


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Primera Liga leaders Barcelona said Lionel Messi will miss their fixture at Malaga on Saturday due to personal reasons, with Spanish media reports saying it is due to the birth of his third son.

"A last minute change to the FC Barcelona squad. Leo Messi has withdrawn for personal reasons and Yerry Mina takes his place," said the statement on the club's official website.

It is the first time this season that Messi, the Primera Liga's top scorer with 24 goals, has not been included in the matchday squad for a league game. He has started 26 of Barca's 27 games, while he came off the bench against Espanyol on February 4.

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Read more:

Barcelona and Real Madrid linked with moves for Neymar

Valverde to have Chelsea on his mind when Barcelona face Malaga

Guardiola plays down comparisons between Manchester City and Barcelona
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Messi's management team could not immediately be reached for comment.

Spanish newspaper Marca said Messi's third son, named as Ciro, was born on Saturday. The Argentine forward and his wife Antonella Roccuzzo announced last October they were expecting a third child.

Barca lead the Primera Liga standings on 69 points, enjoying an eight-point lead over nearest challengers Atletico Madrid after beating the Madrid side 1-0 last Sunday with a free-kick goal by Messi.

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Favourite book: ‘Purpose Driven Life’ by Rick Warren

Favourite travel destination: Switzerland

Hobbies: Travelling and following motivational speeches and speakers

Favourite place in UAE: Dubai Museum

How Islam's view of posthumous transplant surgery changed

Transplants from the deceased have been carried out in hospitals across the globe for decades, but in some countries in the Middle East, including the UAE, the practise was banned until relatively recently.

Opinion has been divided as to whether organ donations from a deceased person is permissible in Islam.

The body is viewed as sacred, during and after death, thus prohibiting cremation and tattoos.

One school of thought viewed the removal of organs after death as equally impermissible.

That view has largely changed, and among scholars and indeed many in society, to be seen as permissible to save another life.

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MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League, Group B
Barcelona v Inter Milan
Camp Nou, Barcelona
Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)

Fixtures (6pm UAE unless stated)

Saturday Bournemouth v Leicester City, Chelsea v Manchester City (8.30pm), Huddersfield v Tottenham Hotspur (3.30pm), Manchester United v Crystal Palace, Stoke City v Southampton, West Bromwich Albion v Watford, West Ham United v Swansea City

Sunday Arsenal v Brighton (3pm), Everton v Burnley (5.15pm), Newcastle United v Liverpool (6.30pm)

TOURNAMENT INFO

Fixtures
Sunday January 5 - Oman v UAE
Monday January 6 - UAE v Namibia
Wednesday January 8 - Oman v Namibia
Thursday January 9 - Oman v UAE
Saturday January 11 - UAE v Namibia
Sunday January 12 – Oman v Namibia

UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Waheed Ahmed, Zawar Farid, Darius D’Silva, Karthik Meiyappan, Jonathan Figy, Vriitya Aravind, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Basil Hameed, Chirag Suri

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The bio

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