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Spain: Messi in Barcelona squad for UEFA Champions League opener [Tue Sep 13th, 2005]
Madrid (Reuters) - Argentina's Lionel Messi was included in the Barcelona squad for their UEFA Champions League opener against Werder Bremen, despite being unable to play for the club in the Primera Liga so far this season.
The 18-year-old international forward has not made a league appearance because of doubts over his status as a so-called "assimilated" player and concerns that if he did play the club would exceed the limit of three non-European Union players permitted by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).
UEFA does not have such limitations and Messi, who played in the Champions League last season, will be able to play in the Group C match in Bremen on Wednesday should coach Frank Rijkaard require it.
Messi was originally thought to have been classed as a European Union player because he had come up through Barcelona's youth ranks, but new regulations allowing for assimilated players have not yet been ratified by the Spanish Sports Council.
Barcelona's three non-European Union berths are already occupied by Brazil forward Ronaldinho, Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o and Mexican defender Rafael Marquez.
Frequently compared with the young Diego Maradona, Messi was top scorer when Argentina won the World Youth Cup in Holland in June.
He made his full international debut in last month's friendly against Hungary but was sent off within two minutes of stepping on to the pitch after elbowing an opponent who had been pulling at his shirt.
Messi made a second appearance for Argentina in their World Cup qualifier against Paraguay on September 3, playing the last eight minutes in a 1-0 defeat in Asuncion.
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