Barcelona hope Messi's status will be resolved soon

Barcelona president Joan Laporta hopes the status of Argentine forward Lionel Messi will be resolved this month.

The 18-year-old international missed the opening game of the Primera Liga season against Alaves and will sit out tomorrow's match against Real Mallorca.

Under Spanish Football Federation rules each Primera Liga club is permitted to have a maximum of three non-European players on its books.

Barcelona already have Brazil forward Ronaldinho, Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o and Mexico defender Rafael Marquez in their side, and had hoped Messi would be classed as an "assimilated" player because he came up through the club's youth ranks.

"We are waiting for the Spanish Sports Council to ratify their new rules they drew up on July 26," Laporta was quoted as saying by sports daily Sport.

"When that is done he will be able to play without any problems."

Messi joined Barcelona in 2003 and played the last two seasons in the reserves.

Impressive performances for Argentina in the World Youth Cup, where he finished as the tournament's top scorer, have prompted comparisons with a young Maradona.