Messi leaves Barcelona: Top 5 players to feature alongside Messi for the Catalan Outfit – FC Barcelona sent shockwaves across the football fraternity by revealing Lionel Messi’s future with the club. The 34-year-old attacker is set to leave The Catalan outfit ahead of the upcoming season due to economic concerns and LaLiga rules. With Lionel Messi’s time at FC Barcelona coming to an end, we have a look at the top 5 Barcelona players that shared the pitch with the 6-time Ballon D’or winner.
Neymar Jr: The Brazilan attacker formed a deadly partnership with Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi in what was one of the most lethal attacking trios in world football. Affectionately nicknamed MSN, Messi, and Neymar alongside struck up a great rapport during their time together FC Barcelona. The duo played 161 games across a four-season stint at the Blaugrana outfit winning numerous trophies.
The South American players had a solid connection and often found each other on the pitch either scoring goals or providing assists to each other. During his stay at Barca, the Brazilian made 77 assists for the Catalan side with half of them(36) only to Lionel Messi before joining Paris Saint-Germain in 2017.
Messi leaves Barcelona: Top 5 players to feature alongside Messi for the Catalan Outfit
Dani Alves: Lionel Messi and Dani Alves played together for eight years at FC Barcelona. Playing on the right side of the teams’ flank, the duo terrorized opponents with their quick passing and telepathic positioning.
Also Read: Lionel Messi Transfer: Lionel Messi was ‘shocked’ by FC Barcelona departure announcement
If Messi ducked inside to occupy the number 10 role, Alves took the task of covering the entire right side freeing Messi of any defensive responsibilities. The duo played nearly 350 games together during their eight-year trophy-laden stint with the Alves-to-Messi assists connection often a fond memory for Barca fans.
Xavi Hernandez: Since 2004, Messi and Xavi have operated together like an indestructible engine on the right side of FC Barcelona’s attack. Alongside Dani Alves’s overlapping runs and Xavi’s defence-splitting passes, Messi got the best of defence and midfield with him which really levelled up his game.
Messi leaves Barcelona: Top 5 players to feature alongside Messi for the Catalan Outfit
Xavi and Messi’s partnership flourished under Pep Guardiola which saw Xavi Hernandez pulled the stings as Messi capitalized on the passes to find the back of the net. The Spanish midfielder has provided 35 assists to Messi from the Barcelona midfield in 399 games they played for the Catalan side between 2004- 2015.
Andres Iniesta: Iniesta and Messi spent over a decade and a half together playing for FC Barcelona. The Spanish star featured in over 489 games with Messi which is the most for Andres Iniesta than anybody else providing 44 Assists to the Argentine.
The duo played together from 2004 to 2018 winning four Champions Leagues, nine La Liga winning 32 trophies together. Lionel Messi and Iniesta were amongst the most consistent performers for Barcelona on the field and also shared an excellent camaraderie both off it.
Luis Suarez: Luis Suarez and Messi did not click instantly with the former Liverpool taking some time to before getting back to his best at Barcelona. Initially operating on the right-wing with Messi running through the center, the club decided to make the switch and change the duos’ position.
It worked wonders for the team as Luis Suarez went on to provide the most number of assists to Lionel Messi. To everyone’s surprise, the Uruguayan striker tipped the likes of Alves, Xavi, and Iniesta and tops the list of providing the most assists to Messi.
Despite being known for his ability in front of the goal, Suarez has provided 54 assists to the former Barcelona star. He also broke Dani Alves’ record of most league assists to the Argentina superstar in 2018 providing 26 assists that season.
Messi and Suarez share great chemistry off the pitch as well with the duo often seen vacationing together in the off-season. Their wives are also said to get along with each other and have paired run a business together operating a boutique in Spain.
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