Lionel Messi joins FC Barcelona for Monday's training session

Leo Messi begins preparing for Wednesday night's La Liga game. / VÍCTOR SALGADO - FCB
Messi was picking up his most recent award, the Best Player of the Year, in Dubai on Sunday

Though FC Barcelona held their first post-holiday workout on Sunday afternoon, it wasn’t until Monday that Lionel Messi was back in the fold. The day before, Messi was in Dubai for the annual Globe Soccer Awards, in which he was named the Best Player of the Year. Upon accepting the award, Messi returned to Barcelona on a private flight so he could be back with his teammates on Monday.

For the second straight day all the available players were out on  Tito Vilanova Field at the Ciutat Esportiva. The team continues to get ready for Wednesday’s La Liga encounter versus Real Betis at Camp Nou. Kick off is set for 8.30pm.

The game will be the team’s final test of the year and it is widely expected that it will ring in another milestone for Messi — his 500th Barça appearance.

Head coach Luis Enrique Martínez has scheduled the team’s next workout for Tuesday at 11.00am.

All times are in Central European Time