Lionel Messi has picked the best XI that he ever played with, according to a tweet by Goal Arabia. Most of them are from his boyhood club, Barcelona, where he spent 17 years before signing for PSG. Only one player from his time at the French side ended up in the team.
The Argentine has played alongside some of the best players in the world, and has some surprising picks across the field.
Lionel Messi Best XI revealed: Who makes it to the line-up?
Here is the line-up that the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner chose:
GK: Marc-Andre ter Stegen
RB: Dani Alves
CB: Carles Puyol
CB: Javier Mascherano
LB: Jordi Alba
CM: Xavi
CM: Andres Iniesta
CAM: Ronaldinho
RW: Neymar
ST: Luis Suarez
LW: Kylian Mbappe
Messi played with Victor Valdes in goal during Barcelona as well, but chose ter Stegen. Moreover, he can now call Sergio Ramos his teammate now that the two play together at PSG. But, the former Real Madrid captain is well past his prime. And as a result, Javier Mascherano has made his line-up instead.
The only PSG player that features in the lineup is Kylian Mbappe, except for Neymar, who was previously at Barcelona with Lionel Messi. Suarez, one of Messi’s best friends, and strike partners during his time at Barcelona, leads the line.
The midfielder was almost destined to include Xavi and Iniesta. But, Sergio Busquets has been dropped to include Ronaldinho, who was at the club when Messi was just coming through.