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While outshining his numerous illustrious teammates, Lionel Messi has shared the pitch with some of the greatest players in football. This includes fellow Ballon d'Or winner Ronaldinho as well as Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez.
The Argentinian superstar has also teamed up with the likes of Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta and Neymar. All three players have been finalists for football's biggest individual award at different points in their careers.
Much has changed since Lionel Messi's official debut in 2004 and the playmaker finds himself in a different era right now. Despite a new generation of stars gracing the game, PSG's new man continues to set himself apart from the rest.
What is the best way to build around Lionel Messi?
At 34, Lionel Messi has shown glimpses of physical decline, although his technique remains exquisite. Over the last five years, Messi has preferred to work smarter, not harder. The best example is his famous El Clasico performance in late 2017. Messi scored a goal and assisted another in a 3-0 Barcelona win despite walking for 83% of the game.
Lionel Messi has also expanded his passing repertoire in recent years. If his teammates are willing to make runs, the Argentine will find them. Surrounding Messi with hardworking midfielders and forwards who boast good movement and link-up play seems to be the optimal approach.
Here are five current star players who perfectly complement Lionel Messi's game*.
*These are not transfer targets for PSG. The list only includes names who Lionel Messi has never played with.
#5 N'Golo Kante
Chelsea's N'Golo Kante is nothing like the languid Sergio Busquets, who Lionel Messi has spent most of his career alongside. But the French international's record speaks for itself.
The Blues' 30-year-old workhorse has won back-to-back Premier League titles, a Europa League, a Champions League, an FA Cup, and a World Cup. In each victory, Kante has powered his club and country to enormous success.
The 2017 PFA Player of the Year's 175 successful tackles in 2015-16 is the highest across the last 11 Premier League seasons!
With Lionel Messi's defensive work rate almost non-existent now, Kante's lung-bursting pressing would allow him to compensate and cover for the PSG superstar.
#4 Phil Foden (Manchester City)
Although Lionel Messi's former Barcelona team-mate Andres Iniesta is now plying his trade in Japan, the 'Stockport Iniesta' continues to dazzle on European shores. Manchester City's Phil Foden is England's pride and joy, with the left-footed midfielder currently playing under Pep Guardiola just as Messi once did.
From Xavi and Iniesta to his more recent teammates Pedri and Marco Verratti, Messi has always operated alongside composed, ball-playing midfielders. Foden is immaculate in possession and can drift out wide onto the left flank, as Iniesta often did for Spain and Barcelona.
What the Manchester City youngster lacks in pace, he makes up for with exceptional positioning. Foden has a knack for popping up in acres of space on the wing. This would bring Lionel Messi's penchant for playing crossfield long-balls from midfield or after cutting in from the right to the fore.
#3 Karim Benzema
Lionel Messi has played behind some of the most lethal centre-forwards of the century, including David Villa, Luis Suarez, Samuel Eto'o and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. However, there aren't many strikers who are unselfish and adaptable like Karim Benzema.
The 33-year-old is no stranger to Lionel Messi, with the two stars battling it out in the El Clasico for over a decade. Benzema has become Real Madrid's undisputed main man over the last few years but spent much of his Los Blancos career deferring to Cristiano Ronaldo.
Not only was the Frenchman willing to play second fiddle to Ronaldo, he did a terrific job of it. With his unerring first touch and intricate link-up play, Benzema's presence would allow Lionel Messi to execute the late runs into the box that make him so lethal.
Benzema has recorded five double-digit assist seasons in La Liga. In four of those campaigns, he also scored in double figures himself. The forward's ability to sacrifice for the team's cause and make others around him better while still finding the net is unparalleled.
Benzema would undoubtedly complement Lionel Messi if they duo ever play together.
#2 Reece James
Reece James has arguably been the most impressive English wing-back in the new domestic season. James has already scored four goals while providing three assists in just eight appearances for Chelsea. The 21-year-old's output has helped his club sit atop the Premier League table.
James is some distance behind rival Trent Alexander-Arnold's attacking contributions. However, some believe the Blues youngster already has the upper hand when it comes to defensive ability.
If there is one weakness to Lionel Messi's game, it is his inability to contribute outside of possession, especially while defending. This results in open space on the right, leaving the right-back behind Messi exposed. Fortunately for PSG, Achraf Hakimi is already one of the best in the business at the position.
In a hypothetical scenario though, James' tough tackling, raw pace and willingness to cover ground would enable him to cover this crucial area of concern. The Chelsea man is also an excellent crosser of the ball and consistently makes overlapping runs.
This would allow him to exploit the space that opens up when Lionel Messi drifts in from the right, inevitably dragging defenders with him.
#1 Erling Haaland
Touted as a potential heir to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo's mantle as the best in the world, Borussia Dortmund's Erling Haaland is a goalscoring machine.
The Norwegian has registered 70 goals and 19 assists in 69 games for the German giants. Such a return is within an other-worldly realm that has only been breached by Messi, Ronaldo and Robert Lewandowski in recent times.
The terrifying thing is Haaland is still just 21 years old. The Norwegian's phenomenal numbers are made even more impressive by the fact that Dortmund don't always provide him with the best service.
This has only become more glaring after the sale of Jadon Sancho, who had 20 assists across all competitions last season, this summer. Sancho often linked up well with Dortmund's star striker.
Haaland, more often than not, creates goals for himself out of absolutely nothing. Tall, strong and equipped with blistering pace, the Norwegian also has a thunderous shot on him. His abilities are not unlike a young Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who Haaland idolized growing up.
Meanwhile, Lionel Messi's playmaking ability is well-chronicled. Despite the absence of a true world-class striker ahead of him, the Argentine recorded 41 assists in his final two seasons with Barcelona.
It isn't hard to imagine the devastating results of potentially pairing the world's sharpest upcoming goalscorer with football's most diverse playmaker.
