Seven-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi is among four players in Paris Saint-Germain's squad, who tested positive for the coronavirus before Monday night's French Cup match.

PSG added, that one employee also had COVID-19 in a statement Saturday night. None of them were named at the time, but in a further statement in the club's medical reports on Sunday, the club named Messi, left defender Juan Bernat, backup goalkeeper Sergio Rico and 19-year-old midfielder Nathan Bitumazalo.

PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino is not sure, when Messi will be able to return to France, or whether he can recover in time, to be able to play away to Lyon next Sunday.

"We have been living with the virus for almost two years and everyone knows, what he has to do, to prevent contamination. But much about that, how the virus works, is still unknown," said Pochettino at the pre-match press conference on Sunday. “As for Leo, is in contact with our medical service.” I don't know, whether he will be able to play in Lyon. He had a positive examination in Argentina (a) until it is negative, will not be able to travel to France. We'll see, when he returns.”

Title holders PSG play in third division Vannes and Pochettino was asked the question, whether he is worried, that the virus may have spammed other players after practice resumes later this week.

“It's a risk, which everyone in football undergoes on a global scale.” Contact is unavoidable in football, it is obvious, that there are more risks," he said. "We have taken all the necessary steps, to prevent this, for a player to transmit the virus to another player. I'm doing it, what the medical staff tells us.”

Last year's runners-up Monaco were in action later on Sunday at second division side Quevilly-Rouen in one of 13 matches scheduled for this day, as the sides struggled to reach the bottom 16.

Monaco said on Saturday, that seven players had COVID-19, but none of them showed any worrisome symptoms and are in isolation.