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The summer of 2020 saw one of the most high-profile transfer sagas over the last decade — one that surrounded Lionel Messi's future at Barcelona. The Catalans' captain had his heart set on an exit from the Nou Camp, and reportedly wanted to leave for Manchester City.
However, after a rather ugly spat between the club and the player's camp, Messi ultimately announced that he is set to stay for the 2020/21 campaign. The Argentine has just a year left on his current deal which LaLiga Santander insist contains a €700m release clause. The 33-year-old would have had to take Barcelona, his boyhood club, to court — an avenue that wasn't pursued by Messi.
Speaking on the possibility of taking legal action against Barcelona, Messi explained;
"I would never go to court against Barca because it is the club that I love, which gave me everything since I arrived, it is the club of my life, I have made my life here. Barca gave me everything and I gave it everything. I know that it never crossed my mind to take Barca to court."
Despite the Barcelona captain's explosive rant and refusal to turn up for training, Messi is now set to stay at Barcelona for another year at the very least and hope to win the UEFA Champions League. Here, we take a look at an XI of players who have played most games alongside Leo Messi.
Note: All stats were collected from transfermarkt.com and are correct as of 10th September 2020
Goalkeeper: Victor Valdes | 353
Barcelona's highest-capped goalkeeper Victor Valdes played a pivotal role in the club's golden era under Pep Guardiola. The Spaniard, who has six LaLiga titles and three UCLs to his name, is regarded as one of the most excellent keepers to have plied their trade for the Blaugrana.
Valdes managed a stunning 173 clean sheets in 387 games, conceding 321 league goals in the process for the Nou Camp giants. The former Manchester United keeper was Barcelona's go-to option in between the sticks and remains one of the most decorated keepers in Spain, having amassed 21 competitive titles with them.
The former Spanish international has represented Barcelona in 535 official games, 353 of which came with Leo Messi in the side.
Also Read: How Barcelona could lineup in the 2020-21 season
Right-back: Dani Alves | 349
Arguably the best defensive teammate Leo Messi has had in his storied career, Brazilian full-back Dani Alves is one of the greatest defenders of this generation, let alone that of Barcelona. Alves, along with Marcelo on the left, are considered to be players who have changed the landscape for full-backs as a whole.
The 37-year-old was renowned for his attacking prowess despite playing as a right-sided full-back for a majority of his career. Alves combined with Messi down Barcelona's right flank for an eight-year period during which the Catalans won three UCL titles, with two of them coming as part of the club's only two trebles. The South Americans shared a unique connection as Alves assisted a whopping 26 LaLiga goals for Messi throughout their time together.
Over their eight years, Alves shared the pitch with Messi on 349 occasions and remains, to date, one of Messi's most influential teammates.
Centre-back: Gerard Pique | 483 Games
Gerard Pique is set to go down as one of the greatest Spanish defenders of all-time and is one of the few current teammates of the Barcelona captain from this XI. The former Manchester United defender has won practically every trophy available to him on both domestic and international fronts, having won the 2010 FIFA World Cup with Spain and UCLs aplenty with Barcelona.
Pique has remained a totem of defence for the Blaugrana for well over a decade now, and was one of the pillars that Pep Guardiola built his dynasty on. Alongside the likes of Carles Puyol and Javier Mascherano (more on him later), the Spaniard has been one of the most consistent performers for Barcelona during their golden generation.
The 33-year-old is one of only four players in history to have won a UCL in two successive years with different clubs, and is undoubtedly one of Leo Messi's most accomplished teammates. The Catalan defender played 483 games alongside the Argentine through his time at Barcelona.
Centre-back: Javier Mascherano | 413
A player who has accumulated over 400 games with Messi, Javier Mascherano is one of Barcelona's most well-renowned veterans. The Argentine shared the stage with Messi for Argentina and the Blaugrana and remains one of the most pivotal players for Barcelona's recent success.
Mascherano and Messi acted as two of the most crucial players for Argentina throughout their time together. This was particularly the case in the 2014 FIFA World Cup, during which Mascherano played as a centre-half and helped tighten up a relatively weak defence. The now Estudiantes defender was also part of Barcelona's second treble in 2014/15 alongside Pique in defence.
Overall, the Argentine clocked over 200 LaLiga Santander games for Barcelona and won the competition five times, and also has two UCL titles and 96 European appearances to his name. Only three players, including Pique, have played more games with Messi than Mascherano.
Left-back: Jordi Alba | 301
Leo Messi shares an excellent relationship with Jordi Alba on the pitch, to an extent where the pair have managed to cut through an entire team with a simple one-two between them. The understanding that both of them have is simply sensational, and has led to some impressive goals over the last few years.
The Spanish left-back is equally comfortable going forward and in defence, but it is the former that has helped him succeed in his Barcelona career. Alba is a marauding, energetic presence on the left flank, often finding himself overlapping the left winger to provide another body in attack.
With five LaLiga titles and a UCL as part of the 2014/15 treble to his name, Alba has been an ever-present figure for Barcelona in the recent past. The 31-year-old has played 336 games for the Blaugrana in his career, and astonishingly, only 35 of them did not feature Messi.
Also Read: Top 10 teams with most goals in the 2019-20 season
Central Defensive Midfield: Sergio Busquets | 523
Barcelona and Spain legend Sergio Busquets has the distinction of having played the most number of games alongside Leo Messi in the Argentine's career. The Spaniard has been a colossus in every single one of Barcelona's all-conquering teams since 2009, of which there have been a few renditions.
Be it their sextuple-winning side in 2009 or Luis Enrique's treble-winning team of 2014/15, Busquets has been an ever-present figure at the base of Barcelona's midfield. At 32, the Spaniard might not be in a position to play games week in week out, but he certainly still remains a top-notch player who can break lines with ease.
Busquets has amassed a staggering eight LaLiga titles at Barcelona, along with three UCL titles, having represented the Catalans on 579 occasions throughout an incredibly illustrious career. The World Cup-winning midfielder has played alongside Leo Messi 523 times for the former Spanish champions.
Central Midfield: Xavi Hernandez | 399
Widely regarded as Barcelona's finest and one of this generation's greatest midfielders, Xavi Hernandez was pivotal to Pep Guardiola's golden era at the club. The midfield controller had an excellent understanding on the pitch with Messi given that he played on the same side as the Argentine for many years.
Xavi was Barcelona's chief orchestrator, and was one of the most reliable figures in possession for Guardiola's side. He formed what is arguably the most extraordinary midfield trio of the century with Busquets and Andres Iniesta. This midfield went on to dominate on both domestic and international fronts with sheer dominance. Xavi's combination play with Leo Messi, and Dani Alves on the right was a sight to behold, as well.
The 40-year-old racked up an astonishing 767 appearances for the Blaugrana, chipping in with 85 goals and 185 assists in that period. The eight-time LaLiga winner and four-time UCL champion played 399 games alongside Messi at Barcelona, making him one of Messi's most memorable teammates.
Central midfield: Andres Iniesta | 489
With the exception of Sergio Busquets, no player in Messi's career has played more games with him than Andres Iniesta. The Spaniard, who was at one point the best midfielder in the world, was part of the famed midfield that conquered the continent on four separate occasions.
On the international front, Iniesta took control of proceedings in the 2010 FIFA World Cup and scored the winning goal in the final to lead Spain to glory. He was named Man of the Match for his sublime performance in the game, and replicated his display two years later in the UEFA Euro 2012 final against Italy as well. With a whopping 35 trophies to his name, Iniesta, to date, remains the most decorated Spanish footballer of all time, and has more LaLiga titles than any Barcelona player in history bar Leo Messi.
Out of Xavi, Busquets, and Iniesta, it was the nine-time LaLiga winner that pushed forward the most and combined with Messi to produce slick, stunning goals for Barcelona. Iniesta played alongside Messi on 489 occasions throughout his 22 years at the Nou Camp.
Also Read: Ranking the top 10 U-23 players in world football currently
Right-wing: Pedro Rodriguez | 270
Spain international and former La Masia prodigy Pedro is one of the more underappreciated servants that Barcelona have had in recent times. The diminutive winger was an intelligent player whose movement wreaked havoc against opposition defences. He was a player who continually worked hard for the collective goal.
The former Chelsea man had a sublime understanding with Messi on the pitch, and was always looking to exploit spaces created by his breathtaking teammate. In fact, only three players — Luis Suarez, Andres Iniesta, and Neymar — have combined for more goal contributions with Leo Messi than Pedro. The Spaniard won three UCLs and five LaLiga titles during his time at Barcelona before moving to Chelsea. Currently at AS Roma, Pedro has won a total of 26 honours over an impressive career.
The 33-year-old Tenerife-native has lined up alongside Messi on 270 occasions throughout their time together at Barcelona.
Left-wing: Neymar | 160
Although Neymar has played relatively lesser games with Messi compared to many other players on this list, the South America's time together was a fabled one. Neymar combined with Messi and Luis Suarez to form what is arguably one of the greatest attacking tridents in football history.
The trio inflicted a surreal amount of damage upon any defence in the world that came up against them. Messi and Neymar's breathtaking ability on the ball to beat their man as well as play a slick one-two to catch defenders off guard was nearly unparalleled at the time. It was all too easy for the Barcelona duo when they shared the pitch as Messi, with his godly passing range, would find Neymar in space who would then bamboozle defenders with his silky dribbling ability.
Messi has never shied away from the fact that he wanted Neymar to return to Barcelona after the Brazilian's world-record move to PSG. The South American combined for a total of 56 goals, the joint-second highest of any player to play with Messi alongside Iniesta. Neymar appeared alongside Messi on 160 occasions, and remains one of his most noteworthy teammates.
Centre-forward: Luis Suarez | 258
Leo Messi has had the luxury of playing alongside a host of stellar centre-forwards throughout his career, including Samuel Eto'o, Sergio Aguero, and many others. However, his current teammate Luis Suarez remains, to date, one of the most prolific men to have ever played alongside the six-time Ballon d'Or winner.
The Uruguayan's work ethic and sheer natural ability suited Messi's style of play excellently throughout their time together. Suarez was the perfect foil for both his South American wide forwards as he did everything one could possibly have expected of him and more. He dropped deep to link up play, pressed opposition defences tirelessly, and most of all, was inventive in his approach alongside Messi. No player in the Argentine's league career set up more goals for him, and no player combined with more goals overall with Messi than Suarez (96).
As of 2020, Suarez's future at the club is plagued with uncertainty as new manager Ronald Koeman does not consider him an unsellable asset. This is particularly with Memphis Depay being strongly linked with a move to the Nou Camp. Nonetheless, The 33-year-old will go down as one of Barcelona's greatest-ever forwards, and undoubtedly one of Messi's most legendary teammates.
Also Read: Top 10 players with most trophies in the 21st century
