Lionel Messi has revealed which one of his teammates knows him “to perfection”, but it may not be who you’d expect.
Messi, 37, is arguably the greatest footballer ever to play the game, but throughout his trophy-laden career, he has been helped by several top-class teammates.
Cast your mind back to the great Barcelona side between 2008 and 2012.
Pep Guardiola oversaw an almost perfect team that consisted of legendary players like Andres Iniesta, Carles Puyol, Xavi, David Villa, Thierry Henry and Samuel Eto’o.
During this period, Messi was arguably at the peak of his powers, having registered 91 goals in 2012 – beating the previous all-time best set by Gert Muller of Bayern Munich, who netted 85 times in 1972.
A huge number of the 91 strikes were assisted by Messi’s Barca teammates, with Iniesta, Xavi and right winger Pedro regularly creating opportunities for the Argentinian.
However, a lot of the time, Messi would take matters into his own hands and dribble past several opposition players like they were not there before finishing past helpless goalkeepers.
But rather surprisingly, it is a player who joined Barca after Guardiola had departed the Camp Nou in the summer of 2012, who has a “special connection” with Messi.
“Jordi Alba knows me to perfection,” Messi told Catalunya Radio, via the Barca website in 2018.
“He knows when I will give him a no-look pass. I have a special connection with him.”
Jordi Alba and Lionel Messi play for Inter Miami (Credit:Getty)
Alba, 35, known for his relentless running down the left flank, assisted 23 of Messi’s 672 goals for Barcelona.
The Spanish international is a Barca legend in his own right, having captured 16 major honours during his 11-year spell at the club.
When Messi left the Catalans for PSG in 2021, Alba was likely among several members of the dressing room who would have been disappointed to see him leave.
But the pair were reunited in July 2023 when Alba joined David Beckham-owned MLS side Inter Miami, linking up with Messi and fellow former Barca star Sergio Busquets.
Another ex-Barca man, Luis Suarez joined the club in December 2023 to add to their already iconic line-up.
And it’s safe to say the former Barca stars have rolled back the years in the States, finishing the season having secured the Leagues Cup and Supporters’ Shield.
