Argentine striker Lionel Messi tested positive for COVID-19 along with three other Paris Saint-Germain players, the French club announced this Sunday.
The other affected players are Juan Bernat, Sergio Rico and Nathan Bitumazala.
"They are currently in isolation and are subject to the corresponding health protocol," PSG reported in a statement.
In addition to the footballers, a member of the technical team also tested positive for the virus.
The cases were detected when the team tested for COVID-19 before returning to training after the winter break.
Messi is in Argentina, where he traveled to spend Christmas and the New Year.
"Lio Messi is in constant contact with our medical services and when negative he will travel to France ... until negative in Argentina he will not be able to travel to France," PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino explained at a press conference.
"Up to now we don't know more than that," he said.
This Monday night, Paris Saint-Germain will face club Vannes at the Stade de la Rabine.
Messi arrived at PSG in August, after spending his entire professional career with Barcelona FC, with which he won more than 30 tournaments.
The Argentine footballer has won the Ballon d'Or seven times, the highest award that FIFA awards a player for his performance each year.
Argentine player Lionel Messi is 34 years old.
Since August 2021 he has been part of the French club Paris Saint-Germain.Christophe Ena / AP
Another French club, Monaco, announced on Saturday that seven players had tested positive for COVID-19 prior to their encounter this Sunday with Quevilly-Rouen.
The club reported that the infected players are isolated and none show signs of serious illness, according to the AP agency.