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#3 Andres Iniesta | Barcelona legend
It's no surprise that Lionel Messi's former Barcelona teammate Andres Iniesta is considered one of the best midfielders of all time.
His technical prowess and brilliant versatility fit well with Barcelona's tiki-taka, with Iniesta being at the centre of it all. Controlling the tempo of games and pulling the strings in midfield, Iniesta combined vision and connection with Messi to devastating effect for Barcelona.
The star won over 20 trophies alongside Messi at Barcelona, including three Champions League and two UEFA Super Cups. Iniesta may not have been prolific in front of goal, as Messi did most of the scoring. But his efficiency, intuition, selflessness and awareness helped him complement and assist Messi brilliantly.
#2 Xavi | Barcelona legend
In many ways, Lionel Messi and Xavi Hernandez were both magicians with the ball at their feet. Similar in stature and skill, and blessed with vision and tactical awareness, both players were sublime passers.
That helped them share some magical, unforgettable moments. The duo played 399 games for Barcelona together, providing goals and assists galore that brought big trophies to Camp Nou.
With 43 goal contributions between them, Xavi, on the right side of midfield, complemented Messi well. They struck up a natural connection, featuring brilliant one-twos, showcasing skilful passing to beat offside traps, and sharing the Ballon d'Or podium twice.
#1 Luis Suarez | Atletico Madrid
Their stint on the pitch may have had a bitter end, with Luis Suarez unceremoniously exiting Barcelona. But their friendship and relationship outside football have remained.
Before Barcelona controversially pushed Suarez out of the club, the Uruguayan international dazzled alongside Messi. The duo set for each other an astonishing tally of 96 goals in 258 games they played together.
Superb feints, devastating one-twos, skilful back-passes, threaded through-balls to beat offside traps, the duo seemed to share a telepathic connection. They shared everything on the pitch, including goals, assists and titles. But they also shared a good rapport off the pitch, from family dinners to vacations.
