Lionel Messi suspended four games for berating official

Lionel Messi has been levied a four-game suspension by FIFA after the Argentina forward berated an official during a World Cup qualifier against Chile last Thursday.

Messi, 29, will be sidelined for four of Argentina's five remaining World Cup qualifiers, including Tuesday's match against Bolivia, and is eligible to return for the Oct. 10 game at Ecuador. He can appeal the ban.

The incident occurred when Messi was whistled for a foul by assistant referee Emerson Carvalho late in the game. Messi waved his arms and shouted profanities at Carvalho and did not shake his hand after the match.

He scored the game's only goal on a penalty in the 16th minute to lift Argentina.

Messi is Argentina's all-time leading goal scorer with 58 in international play. His tally ranks 20th all-time on the international goal scoring list, one behind Spain's David Villa.