BARCELONA, Spain -- Lionel Messis hamstring injury has hurt more than just a muscle in the Argentines right leg, and its still smarting. Wholesale Cavaliers Jerseys . The Barcelona forward scored 60 goals in all competitions this season, enough to ensure the team wins the Spanish league title yet again. But with Messi struggling to recover from the injury he picked up in the Champions League quarterfinals in April, Barcelona was eliminated from that competition in the semifinals. And last weekend, Messi re-aggravated the injury and is now likely to miss the last three games of the Spanish season. "Hes the No. 1, perhaps the best in history," Barcelona defender Jordi Alba said Tuesday before stating what seems to be the obvious. "On many occasions, we depend on him." The 25-year-old Messi won his fourth straight player of the year award this season, and has scored an amazing 133 goals over the last two campaigns. But without the Argentine on the field, Barcelona is just not the same team that has won two of the last four Champions League titles. Most teams would consider the Spanish league title a resounding triumph, but Messi and his Barcelona teammates expect more after winning 14 of a possible 19 trophies in recent years. "We set the bar so high that now you win the league its like you havent won anything," Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez said Wednesday. "We had won so much and yet we still have to value (this title). There is a lot of pressure. If you dont win the Champions League its like you havent won anything." This "Messi-dependence" surely is a disease any other club in the world would love to contract. But with Messi hurt against Bayern Munich in the Champions League semifinals, Barcelona could not find the sure scoring threat it needed. It even seemed that Barcelona didnt believe it could win without him. And it didnt, losing 3-0 in the second leg after the 4-0 rout in the first. Unless he returns for Barcelonas season finale against Malaga on the first weekend in June, Messi will end this season with a league-leading 46 goals -- four short of his own record of 50 from last season. He also scored eight more in the Champions League, four in the Copa del Rey, and two in the Spanish Super Cup. Last season, Messi scored 73 goals to break the previous European club record of 67 goals set by Bayern Munich striker Gerd Mueller in 1972-73. Even so, the Argentina star was reduced to tears when Barcelona somehow lost to Chelsea in the Champions League semifinals. This year, Barcelona was obliterated by Bayern, and that historic 7-0 scoreline makes a big difference for a team which for the first time in five years wont start next season as the favourite in Europes top-tier competition. Not, that is, unless it makes some major changes to its aging squad. Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova insists he will maintain the teams core and that its humbling Champions League exit wont change his plans for the off-season. Yet Barcelona has players that may not be physically able to execute the pressing defence that underlies its famed ball-control and passing game. Captain Carles Puyol is 35 and Eric Abidal, whose contract is up in June, is 33 and only recently returned from a liver transplant. Fellow defenders Dani Alves will be 30 and Javier Mascherano 29 by the start of next season, while the injury-prone Adriano is 28. Midfielder Xavi Hernandez, the heart of Barcelonas passing attack, is 33, striker David Villa is 31, and midfielder Andres Iniesta recently turned 29. "A season when you win the league is always a good one," Vilanova said, looking on the bright side before turning to the seasons big disappointment. "We regret not being able to compete better in the semifinals of the Champions League. Next season will be even more difficult, but well try to be there again." Cheap Cavaliers Jerseys . Cote was eligible to become a free agent Feb. 15. Cote helped running back Jon Cornish run for a league-high 1,813 rushing yards en route to being named the leagues most outstanding player. Cheap Swingman Cavaliers Jerseys . Bryant, who signed a five-year, $34 million contract as a free agent with Cleveland in March, reported symptoms on Monday morning, a team spokesman said. http://www.cheapcavaliersjerseysauthentic.com/ .Y. -- Jayna Hefford scored the winning goal Friday as Canada survived a scare with a 4-3 win over Sweden at the Four Nations womens hockey tournament. WASHINGTON -- Gerrit Cole returned from the disabled list Saturday night after breezing through a pair of minor league rehab starts.The Washington Nationals provided a tougher test.Cole lasted just four innings in his return for Pittsburgh, Tanner Roark pitched eight-plus innings of five-hit ball and the Nationals beat the Pirates 6-0.Recovering from a right triceps strain, Cole (5-5) pitched eight scoreless innings in his Triple-A appearances, rarely working with men on base. Against Washington, he allowed seven hits and walked two.I just didnt execute enough pitches. If I made one quality pitch I followed it up with a subpar (one), he said. The ball was elevated, especially out of the stretch. I got crushed.The 2015 All-Star allowed five runs -- four earned -- with five strikeouts.You can go pitch in the minor leagues forever and thats not always going to help, manager Clint Hurdle said. He needs to get back here and help us and get involved in the fight with us. I saw some good things.Coles first major league appearance since June 10 was delayed 71 minutes by rain. Washington wasted little time scoring with single runs in the first and second innings plus three in the fourth -- aided by second baseman Josh Harrisons throwing error -- for a 5-0 lead.The Pirates have lost three in a row after a 9-1 stretch.Roark (9-5) allowed five singles with one walk and five strikeouts in his longest start of the season. He started the ninth but left after allowing a single and hitting a batter.On Friday night, Stephen Strasburg held the Pirates to a run on three hits over eight innings.The name of the game is to get in the bullpen as early as you can, Harrison said. Unfortunately we havent been able to early in the first two games.Anthony Rendon homered and drove in two runs for Washington. Second baseman Stephen Drew had three doubles and one RBI in place off NL batting leader Daniel Murphy. Cheap NBA Jerseys. The Nationals have won five straight games.Roark rarely faced trouble in recording his third win in four starts.Andrew McCutchens second hit loaded the bases with no outs in the ninth, but reliever Blake Treinen finished the shutout.Pittsburgh had three total runners reach in the second inning, but Roark deftly avoided damage with two groundouts including a double play on a ball hit by Sean Rodriguez.We had some balls to hit, we didnt hit them, Hurdle said.Rendons RBI single put Washington up 1-0. Back-to-back doubles by Drew and Danny Espinosa in the second added another run off Cole, a 19-game winner last season. Cole entered Saturday 2-0 with a 1.74 ERA in three career starts against the Nationals.Harrison fielded Roarks bases loaded grounder with one out in the fourth. Spinning around for the throw to first base, Harrisons toss sailed and landed in Washingtons dugout as two runs scored.Do or die, Harrison said. If I make a good throw we get an out out of it. They still get a run.GNAT FOR NATSMcCutchen has a hit in seven straight games against Washington, batting .360 (9 for 25) with one home run and four RBI in that stretch.TRAINERS ROOMPirates: RF Gregory Polanco will either return to the lineup by Tuesday or be placed on the disabled list with left hamstring tightness, Hurdle said. Polanco, out since July 8, is not expected to play Sunday, but Hurdle stated, were optimistic with his progress.UP NEXTPirates: RHP Chad Kuhl (1-0, 6.08 ERA) allowed four runs in 2 1/3 innings for a no-decision July 10 against the Cubs.Nationals: RHP Max Scherzer (10-6, 3.03) makes his first start since appearing in the All-Star game. He threw a no-hitter against Pittsburgh on June 20, 2015. Nike NFL Jerseys China Jerseys NFL Cheap Cheap NFL T-shirts Wholesale NFL White Jerseys Wholesale NFL Camo Jerseys China Jerseys Cheap Jerseys China ' ' '