Lionel Messi, widely considered one of the greatest footballers of all time, recently named his ultimate XI of teammates from both club and international football. In a December 2023 interview with GOAL Arabia, Messi selected some of his most iconic former Barcelona teammates, including Neymar Junior and Luis Suarez, both of whom were key members of the famed attacking trio at Barcelona that helped the club achieve tremendous success.
Messi, who is now playing for Inter Miami after an illustrious career at Barcelona and a stint at Paris Saint-Germain, picked Neymar and Suarez for his ultimate XI due to their fruitful partnerships over the years. The trio formed one of the deadliest attacking units in football history, winning multiple La Liga titles and the continental treble (La Liga, Copa del Rey, and UEFA Champions League) during the 2014-15 season.
In addition to Neymar and Suarez in attack, Messi selected Kylian Mbappe, the current Real Madrid striker, who arrived from PSG in the summer of 2023, completing the formidable attacking trio.
In midfield, Messi chose some of his most influential teammates, including former Barcelona legend Ronaldinho, as well as Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta—two players who played pivotal roles in the success of Barcelona during Messi’s time there. Notably, Sergio Busquets, Messi’s current Inter Miami teammate, was omitted from the XI.
Defensively, Messi picked two full-backs from his Barcelona days, Jordi Alba and Dani Alves, alongside two of the club’s all-time great center-backs, Javier Mascherano and Carles Puyol. Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen was selected to complete the starting XI, with Messi pointing to him as the best option in goal.
As of now, only Marc-Andre ter Stegen remains at Barcelona, while the others, including Messi, have moved on to new chapters in their careers. Mascherano, after retiring, joined Messi at Inter Miami as their new head coach.
In addition to his ultimate XI selection, Messi’s first full season with Inter Miami in 2024 was injury-impacted, but he still contributed heavily to the team’s success. He helped Inter Miami secure the MLS Supporters’ Shield, scoring 20 goals and providing 16 assists, making him the club’s all-time top scorer. As a result, Messi was named to the 2024 MLS Best XI, along with his former Barcelona teammate Jordi Alba.
