LIONEL MESSI has been given a clean bill of health and will face Celtic in Wednesday's Champions League qualifying match.

The Argentine was forced to pull out of Barcelona's goalless draw with Malaga on Saturday at the last minute having picked up a bug and the initial prognosis was his illness would force him to miss to match in Glasgow.

However, Messi has been declared fit and trained with his team-mates on Monday ahead of their visit to Scotland.

The football icon's importance to his team cannot be overstated, which is why Manchester City are reportedly about to pay a world record in terms of wages and transfer fees for him.

Messi has scored seven goals in this year's tournament ao far and provided the key assist for two more. This record includes a hat-trick in Celtic 7-0 defeat in the Nou Camp.

A point on Wednesday would be enough for the Spanish champions to reach the last 16, while Celtic would need at least three points from their final two games, their group matches end with a trip to Manchester City next month, if they are to pip Borussia Monchengladbach and qualify for the Europa League.

Left-back Jordi Alba is also expected too be fit having made a substitute appearance at the weekend after troubles with his hamstring.

Messi, Neymar, Luis Suárez, Andrés Iniesta and Gerard Piqué have been named on the list of 40 players which will be voted for to make up UEFA's all-star team of 2016.