Lionel Messi missed training on Monday and then went sledding with his son Thiago and girlfriend Antonella Roccuzzo on Tuesday

The Barcelona star missed training on Monday due to 'personal reasons'

(Instagram/Antonella Racuzzo)

Lionel Messi was allowed to miss Barcelona training on Monday for "personal reasons".

A day later, however, his girlfriend Antonella Roccuzzo had posted a video to her Instagram page that showed Messi on a sled with their son Thiago, having a great time.

It is completely unclear whether the two incidents are linked, of course (I'll just repeat that for the sake of the lawyers...).

"Messi hasn't trained today, with the permission of the club, due to personal reasons," Barca said in a statement on Monday.

Luis Enrique gave the whole squad Tuesday and Wednesday off as they do not face Athletic Bilbao until Sunday evening. They are due back at training tomorrow.

The superstar is enjoying another brilliant season at the Nou Camp with 34 goals and 16 assists in 28 games in all competitions, although he was beaten to the Ballon d'Or by great rival Cristiano Ronaldo last month.