Lionel Messi fit to play in El Clasico; will be game-time decision

It was just about eight weeks ago that Lionel Messi triggered a collective gasp from every human being in Catalonia, tearing the internal collateral ligament of his left knee and beginning a race against time to be fit for El Clasico.

On Friday, one day before Barcelona visits Real Madrid in one of the planet's most hostile and politically-driven derbies, manager Luis Enrique provided the update on Messi's knee injury that supporters of the Catalan club have been waiting to hear.

Enrique's decision on whether Messi plays will be taken 60 minutes before kickoff, as the manager from Gijon, Spain said, according to BBC Sport: "I don't have things planned yet. I will speak with Leo today (Friday) and again tomorrow (Saturday). An hour before the game, things will be decided."

Only two-and-a-half weeks ago, it was reported that Messi would miss El Clasico because therapy on his injured knee had not progressed quickly enough. However, there was always reason to believe that the Argentinian phenom's availability wouldn't be known until the last minute, as he told Spanish football expert Guillem Balgue in an exclusive interview: "When they tell me that I have recovered completely will be the time that I will make my return onto the pitch."

Here's a video of Barcelona's squad list for El Clasico: