LIONEL MESSI was dropped by Barcelona yesterday against Juventus - and Gonzalo Higuain found it hilarious.
Messi did appear on the field in the 56th minute when he replaced Gerard Deulofeu, but failed to impact on the game as it finished 0-0.
And as the two teams were heading out of the tunnel, former Real Madrid striker Higuain had a dig at Messi for failing to make the starting XI.
The pair are international team-mates with Argentina. Higuain reportedly said: "It suits him the vest, the vest of substitute", before the two laughed together.
The likelihood was that Velverde rested Messi ahead of Barcelona's top-of-the-table clash against Valencia at the weekend.
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner has already conceded he will play a lesser role for Argentina in order to reach the World Cup in peak condition.
He said: "We play many games in the season — the Champions League, the Copa del Rey, La Liga, plus everything about the national team and the trips.
"I want to get to the World Cup in the best way.”
The draw still meant the Catalan giants qualified for the knockout stages of the competition.
Massimiliano Allegri's Juventus side need a win against Olympiakos in their final match to ensure qualification.
Third-place Sporting Lisbon beat the Greek side 3-1 and travel to the Nou Camp in their final match a point behind Juventus.
Valverde made the big decision to leave Messi on the bench with one eye on the weekend — and the lack of quality in attack was telling.
Gerard Deulofeu started alongside Luis Suarez and both struggled to break down the Juve defence.
Juve played like a side lacking in confidence, but will back themselves to beat Olympiakos at home and ensure qualification to the last-16 for the fourth consecutive season.
Failing that, even a second-string Barcelona side should avoid defeat against Sporting at the Nou Camp.
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