Lionel Messi Reveals His Top 10 Favorite Teammates from His Legendary Career
Throughout his illustrious career, Lionel Messi has played alongside some of the greatest footballers in history. From his early days at Barcelona to his stints at Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Miami, and the Argentina national team, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner has formed incredible partnerships on the field.
Messi’s Most Cherished Teammates
Since making his professional debut with Barcelona in 2004, Messi has had the privilege of sharing the pitch with exceptional talents. During his 17-year tenure at Camp Nou, he won four Champions League titles while playing alongside legendary figures such as Xavi, Carles Puyol, and Andres Iniesta.
All ten of Messi’s favorite teammates were associated with Barcelona at some point in their careers. In an interview with Chinese outlet Titan Sports, Messi reflected on his journey and the players he enjoyed playing with the most.
"I was lucky to play for a long time at Barcelona... with many of the best players," Messi said in 2023. "Like Ronaldinho, Deco, [Samuel] Eto'o, [Luis] Suarez, Xavi, [Andres] Iniesta, [Sergio] Busquets, I was lucky enough to play with the best players and enjoy the game with them."
Messi’s Unforgettable Partnerships
As he reminisced about his career, Messi nearly forgot to mention one of his most prominent strike partners. He quickly corrected himself, saying: "Speaking of which, I almost forgot about Neymar because there are so many people."
He then expanded on his list, adding more legendary names to his lineup. "There must be many players I forgot to mention," Messi acknowledged. "I've been lucky enough to play with the best players, with the best strikers, like Neymar, [Samuel] Eto'o, [Luis] Suarez, [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic, and [David] Villa and many more. Playing with them is easy."
Messi’s Dream XI
In 2023, Messi revealed his 'Dream XI' of former teammates, which included Kylian Mbappe—the only non-Barcelona player to make the list. His chosen squad featured Marc-Andre ter Stegen as the goalkeeper, ahead of Victor Valdes and Gianluigi Donnarumma.
For his defensive lineup, he selected Dani Alves, Jordi Alba, Carles Puyol, and Javier Mascherano. His midfield was anchored by Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta, along with the iconic Ronaldinho, who famously assisted Messi’s first-ever Barcelona goal on May 1, 2005, against Albacete.
In attack, Messi unsurprisingly picked Neymar and Luis Suarez, two of his most dynamic teammates. Rounding out the lineup was Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe, showcasing Messi’s respect for the French forward’s immense talent.
Final Thoughts
Lionel Messi’s career has been defined not only by his individual brilliance but also by the world-class teammates he played alongside. His ability to adapt and thrive with different players across multiple clubs is a testament to his legendary status in football history.
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