Messi, at 37, is considered one of the greatest players in football history. But in his journey to conquer a series of titles, he has always been supported by excellent teammates.

Remember the legendary Barca squad from 2008 to 2012. Under the leadership of Pep Guardiola, Barca became a near-perfect team with famous players such as Andrés Iniesta, Carles Puyol, Xavi, David Villa, Thierry Henry and Samuel Eto’o.

During this period, Messi reached his peak form, especially with his 91 goals in 2012 – surpassing the record of 85 goals set by Gerd Muller (Bayern Munich) in 1972. Most of those 91 goals came from assists from teammates at Barca, such as Iniesta, Xavi and Pedro.

However, surprisingly, the player that Messi said “understands him the most” was not in Guardiola’s squad but was a name that joined Barca after Pep left in the summer of 2012.

“Jordi Alba understands me perfectly,” Messi told Catalunya Radio. “He knows when I’m going to pass the ball without looking. I have a special connection with him.”

Jordi Alba, renowned for his relentless attacking and defensive work on the left flank, has assisted 23 of Messi’s 672 goals for Barca. The Spanish full-back is also a Barca legend, winning 16 major trophies in 11 years at the Camp Nou.

When Messi left Barca to join PSG in 2021, Alba was probably one of the saddest people in the dressing room. However, the pair reunited in July 2023 when Alba joined Inter Miami, the team owned by David Beckham, where Messi and Sergio Busquets – another former Barca teammate – had previously played.

In December 2023, Luis Suarez – who once formed the legendary MSN trio with Messi and Neymar – also joined Inter Miami. Not disappointing fans, the former Barca stars “rejuvenated” in the US, helping Inter Miami win the Leagues Cup and the Supporters’ Shield title last season.