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Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi
At Barcelona, Lionel Messi has lined up alongside some of the very best in the business.
Barcelona's Lionel Messi is one of the greatest footballers of all time. Even today, at the age of 33, there are only a few players that can match his level. Barcelona has also always been a dream destination for footballers around the world. Naturally, Lionel Messi has also been able to play alongside some of the world's best.
In the opening decade of the 21st century, Barcelona were arguably the best football team in the world and they had a plethora of world-class talent on their payroll. Lionel Messi was central to their success during this time but the personnel around him were a critical part of that too.
Without further ado, let's take a look at five of his teammates at Barcelona that Lionel Messi worked best with.
5 of Lionel Messi's best teammates at Barcelona
#5 Neymar Jr.
While Lionel Messi is one of the best dribblers on the planet and one of the most technically proficient players on the planet, he has not always synced with players of the same ilk. Ousmane Dembele and Antoine Griezmann are similar players but Messi has not been at his best playing alongside them.
So there were concerns about how he'd gel with Neymar when he was initially signed from Santos. However, Neymar's and Messi's combination worked like a charm. Messi had found someone to share the goalscoring burden with and the two have combined to play some of the best attacking football we've seen in recent times.
Neymar occupied the right wing and he'd cut in from the flank just as Lionel Messi would from the left. The two had excellent chemistry and used to consistently pick out each other in dangerous areas.
Neymar recently expressed his desire to reunite with Lionel Messi and for all we know, it might just happen in the summer.
#4 Xavi
Xavi was one-third of the finest midfield trio in modern day football at Barcelona alongside Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta. Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets were the primary exponents of the tiki-taka style of football that Pep Guardiola's Barcelona had become successful with and famous for.
Xavi used to operate on the right side of the pitch and naturally, he and Messi struck up a connection. When two world-class footballers who can play to each other's strengths combine, the results will be extraordinary.
Xavi made a habit of recognizing Messi's runs and releasing him into tight spaces with his pin-point passing. Xavi was so good on the ball that he'd hardly ever lose possession and whenever they were getting suffocated in the centre of the park, the Spaniard would often combine with Messi to create chances out of nothing.
#3 Dani Alves
Dani Alves and Lionel Messi shared a telepathic connection on the right-wing for Barcelona over the eight years that they played together. Dani Alves had no problem shuttling up and down the right flank for Barcelona and that gave Messi the freedom to stay up and also drift inside.
His chemistry with Lionel Messi was unbelievable, with the duo combining for some excellent exchanges, playing the filthiest of one-twos and leaving defenders on their backsides for fun. Alves had a knack for finding Lionel Messi in and around the final third and he has assisted 26 goals for the Argentine in La Liga alone.
There were a lot of factors that came together to enable Barcelona's domination in Europe, especially under Pep Guardiola, and the interplay between Dani Alves and Lionel Messi was a critical part of it.
#2 Andres Iniesta
Don Andres has had an incredibly illustrious career and he has won the lot. Lionel Messi is often linked closely with Xavi as they shared the same side of the pitch but the connection that he shared with Andres Iniesta was on another level.
Iniesta and Messi have played across various roles and despite all the changes that they have had going around them, their effectiveness never suffered. While Xavi and Busquets played holding roles, it was Iniesta who had the freedom to roam into the final third and pick out those killer passes.
Iniesta and Messi are two of the finest on-ball technicians we have seen since the turn of the century and as such, their link-up play was always a treat to watch. Their quick one-twos, tricks and flicks have left many defenders swiping at thin air and ending up on their behinds.
It was one of the most beautiful link-ups we have ever seen and that's why Andres Iniesta is so high up on this list.
#1 Luis Suarez
Lionel Messi has never enjoyed as prolific and as effective a striking partnership with anybody as he has with Luis Suarez. Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar were unstoppable and they're one of the best attacking trios in the history of the game.
After overcoming the initial hitches, Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi clicked in their natural roles; the Uruguayan playing down the centre and Messi operating on the right side of the pitch. They combined in lethal fashion, scoring goals for fun and striking up a great friendship both on and off the field.
Suarez broke Dani Alves' record for most league assists to Messi and the Argentine has, in turn, assisted Suarez 39 times in the La Liga. With Lionel Messi working alongside him, Luis Suarez won the Pichichi trophy, scoring 40 goals in a season and beating Cristiano Ronaldo to the coveted prize.
Lionel Messi was extremely disappointed with the manner in which Luis Suarez was iced out of the club and why wouldn't he be? His partnership with Luis Suarez is one for the ages with the duo playing some unreal football together and when they were in the mood, defenders didn't stand a chance.
