Barcelona star Lionel Messi celebrates son Ciro’s first birthday on eve of El Clasico showdown’ 

Lionel Messi may have a very important match on Wednesday as Barcelona take on Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey, but the Argentine also had time to celebrate a significant occasion on the eve of the game. 

Messi’s son Ciro celebrated his first birthday and the Barcelona star posted a picture of his family on Instagram.

Antonella Roccuzzo, Messi’s wife, was present in the photo, as were the attacker’s other sons – Thiago and Mateo. Ciro, meanwhile, was sleeping. 

Lionel Messi celebrated his son Ciro’s first birthday along with his wife Antonella Roccuzzo and his other sons Thiago and Mateo

Barcelona go into the second leg against Real at The Bernabeu with the tie level at 1-1.

There will be another edition of El Clasico on Saturday when the sides do battle in La Liga.

Messi has scored 26 goals in 37 appearances against Real and will be determined to add to that tally during the upcoming two fixtures.

Earlier in the day Messi trained as Barcelona prepared for their clash against Real Madrid

In the first leg at the Nou Camp Lucas Vazquez put Real ahead in the sixth minute but Barcelona equalised through Malcom in the 57th minute.

Messi came on as a substitute in that game but is in line to start on Wednesday and will be full of confidence following his superb hat-trick in the 4-2 victory over Sevilla last weekend. 

So far this season Messi has scored 33 goals in 32 games, while he has provided 18 assists. 

To reach this stage of the Copa del Rey, Barcelona have overcome Cultural Leonesa, Levante and Sevilla.