With record 300 league goal in sight, Lionel Messi returns after kidney stone treatment

New Delhi: Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi returned to training on Thursday after receiving treatment for kidney stones.

Barcelona said in a statement on their website "with the renewed presence of Leo Messi in training Barca is already focussing on the next Liga outing."

The Argentine missed Wednesday's 1-1 Copa del Rey semi-final second-leg draw with Valencia, with the Catalan side prevailing 8-1 on aggregate.

On February 8, the club had revealed that "Messi will undergo several tests on Monday and Tuesday to assess the evolution of the kidney problems he suffered last December."

The 28-year-old missed his team`s FIFA Club World Cup semi-final in December as he was suffering from renal colic, a type of abdominal pain often caused by kidney stones.

Despite the problem, he played in the final three days later, scoring the first goal to beat Argentina's River Plate 3-0. The five-time World Player of the Year has also played in all of Barca`s league games since.

He is expected to start Sunday's Liga clash with Celta Vigo at the Camp Nou where he needs only two goals to become the first player in the Spanish league to score 300 goals.