Barcelona's Brazilian forward Ronaldinho will be sidelined for about six weeks after he pulled a muscle in his right leg during a training session, the Spanish club said on Friday.

The injury means the 28-year-old player, who has has been linked to a move away from the Catalan giants, will miss most of the remaining season.

Ronaldinho pulled the muscle during an "accident" during training on Thursday, the club said in a statement.

"A scan carried out this morning confirms that he has a torn muscle which will keep him off the pitch for a period of six weeks," it said.

Ronaldinho, who is under contract with Barcelona until 2010, has had his worst season since he joined the Catalan side from Paris Saint-Germain in 2003.

Barcelona lie in third place in the Spanish league with 58 points, seven behind defending champions and leaders Real Madrid.