Greatest XI to have played with Lionel Messi

# Central Midfielder - Xavi

Xavi (right) played a lot of games with Lionel Messi.

Xavi Hernandez is one of the best players to have played with Lionel Messi. In almost a decade, the duo appeared in nearly 400 games for Barcelona, winning big titles galore.

A La Masia product, just like Messi, Xavi won two continental trebles and seven La Liga titles with the Argentine. The midfield metronome was the engine room of a fabulous Barcelona team, creating chances galore for the likes of Messi and co up front.

It was from Xavi's cross that Messi scored what the latter would call the best goal of his career. With Barcelona leading by an early goal in the 2009 Champions League final against Manchester United, Xavi teed up Messi to clinch the second. The diminutive Messi, who was unmarked, leapt up several feet in the air to score a rare headed goal.

Xavi and Messi last played together in the 2015 Champions League final, which Barcelona won to complete their second continental treble in six years.

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# Central Midfielder - Andres Iniesta

Andres Iniesta (right) and Lionel Messi shared great camarederie.

Andres Iniesta is another world-class player Lionel Messi has had the good fortune of playing with during his illustrious career.

Iniesta played almost 500 games with Messi across competitions during a glorious decade-and-a-half-long stint at Barcelona. One of the most decorated players in Barcelona's history, Iniesta and Messi won over 30 titles at the club, including two continental trebles.

Due to Iniesta's penchant for making late runs into the opposition box, the duo combined for many goals for Barcelona. Explaining Iniesta's role for Barcelona, Messi said in the extract of the book The Artist: Being Iniesta:

"He has more contact with the ball than me; he's the person who starts moves, who gets things going. I know how difficult it is to do what he does. Maybe you could say that both of us have something of the street in the way we play.

Iniesta, on his part, has called Messi the best player he has seen on a football pitch.

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# Defensive Midfielder - Sergio Busquets

Sergio Busquets (centre) played over 500 games with Lionel Messi.

Sergio Busquets is the player who holds the distinction of playing the most games (567) with Lionel Messi.

Appointed Barcelona captain after Messi's departure from Camp Nou this summer, Busquets' breakout campaign in 2008-09 coincided with Messi's. Under first-time coach Pep Guardiola, Barcelona became the first Spanish team to win the continental treble that season. There would be no looking back for the duo from there.

An omipresent in the Barcelona midfield, Busquets often does the 'dirty' work for the team, breaking up opponents' plays and setting up attacks for Barcelona. Now on the wrong side of 30, Busquets is one of the most experienced players in the team as Barcelona seek to write a new chapter after Messi's departure.