Lionel Messi left battered, bruised, and bleeding after over-zealous challenge from Chris Smalling

Photo by Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith

Lionel Messi bleeds.

• Lionel Messi was left bleeding from the nose after a clumsy challenge from Chris Smalling.
• It all happened midway through the first half of FC Barcelona's match at Manchester United on Tuesday.
• Messi was attempting to control a ball coming down from the sky, when Smalling shoulder-barged the Barça forward out of the way.
• Messi collapsed to the floor where he could be seen bleeding from the nose with a cut on his eyelid and a bruise on his cheek.
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Lionel Messi was left battered, bruised, and bleeding after he was clumsily challenged by Chris Smalling during a UEFA Champions League match.

FC Barcelona travelled to Old Trafford in the north of England to contest the first leg of its crucial quarter-final against Manchester United.

Ahead of the match, Smalling was asked by the media how he was feeling about marking Messi, a player so good at soccer than when he scores, opposing fans stand and applaud.

Smalling, seemingly unfazed, told BBC it was "a challenge to relish" before adding: "Bring it on."

Smalling, who is 28 centimeters taller than Messi, certainly brought it midway through Wednesday's match, but unfortunately for the Barça forward, the United defender's challenge was one he never saw coming.

Read more: Somebody asked the pope if calling Lionel Messi 'God' is sacrilegious, and he responded

It all happened in the first half when Messi was preparing to control the ball coming down from the sky.

Rather than give Messi a chance to control the ball, Smalling entered the frame and shoulder-barged Messi out of the way before he even made contact with it.

All Messi could do was collapse awkwardly on the floor. He was then seen bleeding from the mouth with a cut on his eyelid and a bruise on his cheek.

Watch Messi receive medical attention right here:

It wasn't all bad news for Messi, though, as his passing vision led to a Luis Suarez attack and Luke Shaw own goal just 12 minutes into the match.

Should Barcelona preserve its lead then it takes a clear advantage into the second leg at Camp Nou in Spain, on Tuesday.