Messi comments on Abidal

The prolific attacker has hailed the Frenchman's hard work as he continues his recovery from a liver transplant. Lionel Messi has voiced his admiration for Barcelona team-mate Eric Abidal following the latter's ongoing fight against health problems. The Frenchman was diagnosed with a tumour in his liver in March 2011, yet featured for the full 90 minutes in Barca's 3-1 Champions League final win over Manchester United hardly two months later. Abidal was dealt another blow in March 2012, though, when it was announced that he needed to undergo a liver transplant, and the defender has since been working on his recovery. "Everything Eric has done and everything he has fought for is admirable. No-one truly knows how hard he has worked to be able to train with the team again," Messi told reporters. "It was very difficult when we found out [he had cancer] but his strength has united the whole team. How much he can contribute to the team is irrelevant, the important thing is that he is here with us.