SP. Lionel Messi once sent out special Christmas gift to 160 players but most will have wanted to avoid it

Gianluigi Buffon was delighted with his beers sent by Lionel Messi. Image: Gianluigi Buffon

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.”

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.

The third-highest paid player in world football back in 2011 is a player who will not be known many.

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo were the top two in the Ballon d’Or rankings that year, with Xavi completing the top three after a stellar year where he helped Barcelona win the treble.

But while the titans of football were also in the same position in terms of highest-earning players, a surprise player with a remarkable story took the bronze medal.

Dario Conca went his entire career without playing in Europe, instead spending his time in native Argentina, Brazil, China and the United States.

After a loan deal with Fluminense, Conca signed permanently with the Brazilian giants, helping them win a first league title in 26 years back in 2010.

Voted the best player in the league in consecutive years, Conca signed a lucrative deal with Chinese Super League side Guangzhou Evergrande in 2011 – kicking off a period where several South American players moved to the Far East.

The club paid $10 million for his services, with Conca earning £170,000-a-week after penning a contract for two-and-a-half years. Although players in China would go on to earn more in the following years, the salary was monumental at the time and only Messi and Ronaldo had better financial terms.

Conca played 99 times for Evergrande, scoring 54 goals and winning three Chinese Super League titles as well as the AFC Champions League.

He headed back to Fluminense where his wages dropped to a mere £8,000 a week but he ended up making a swift return to China with Shanghai SIPG, with the late Sven Goran Eriksson succeeding in bringing him to the club after taking the job.

After 17 goals in 58 games, he had a third stint with Fluminense on loan in 2017 and later made just three appearances for Austin Bold FC before hanging up his boots.

“Football has given me a lot, I love this career, it was fantastic for me, but today I think it’s the right time for me to stop,” Conca told GloboEsporte.com in 2019.

“I was not thinking about football today. It gave me a lot, I’m very grateful for everything, I managed to make a career, to have recognition.”

Lionel Messi has identified a player from the so-called ‘new generation’ that reminds him of his younger self.

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner paid a visit to the Adidas headquarters in Germany this week alongside Inter Miami teammates Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.

Here, Messi was joined on stage by Adidas CEO Bjorn Gulden as he hosted a Q&A session with those in attendance.

He answered a number of questions but one answer that involved Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal has got people talking.

As you can see from the footage below, a fan asked Messi the following question: “Football is changing, there’s a new generation rising. Who is one player from this new generation that you watch and think, ‘This is me when I was younger.'”

Without much hesitation, Messi proceeded to namedrop Yamal as someone who has “a huge future ahead of him” after such a strong start to his career with Barcelona and Spain.

“The new generation of young players is very good and has many years ahead of them,” Messi said.

“Well, I’ve heard about Lamine Yamal, without a doubt. It depends on him, and also other factors, to stay consistent. But he is already part of the present and, without a doubt, has a huge future ahead of him.”

Yamal has previously named Messi as his idol.

“He is my idol. He always has been, he continues to be now that I play for Barcelona,” the teenager said last year. “He inspired me. I have never had another idol. I once took a photo with him. I was unknown. Maybe one day I will be like him.”

This isn’t the first time Messi has been asked to identify young talent in world football. Back in 2020, the Argentine mentioned Jadon Sancho, Mason Mount and Phil Foden when he was asked to name 15 young players that were “on the rise”.

Here’s what he has to say about those 15 players.

Trent Alexander-Arnold – “A full-back who is impressive going forward, it is the future.”

Christian Pulisic – “He has great balance and agility.”

Mason Mount – “Having watched him play he has the potential to be one of the best.”

Jadon Sancho – “His ability to dribble past defenders is impressive.”

Luka Jovic – “A magical player who makes the impossible, possible.”

Kai Havertz – “His composure in front of goal is so impressive for such a young player.”

Eder Militao – “A phenomenal talent and fierce competitior.”

Ousmane Dembele – “His pace is frightening in training.”

Phil Foden – “He will do amazing things in the game. He has huge talent.”

Houssem Aouar – “He is always calm with the ball at his feet with an excellent technical quality.”

Frenkie de Jong – “One of the most accomplished passers I have ever seen for his age.”

Joao Felix – “One of the most exciting young players in the world right now.”

Kylian Mbappe – “He is so fast and he can finish. Very dangerous.”

Joshua Kimmich – “A hugely talented full-back who provides so many assists.”

Benjamin Pavard – “A classy defender who can strike a ball so well.”

Lionel Messi made a surprise admission about the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar, where he finally completed football.

Messi captained Argentina to a first triumph since 1986 back in December 2022, becoming the ninth player to win the World Cup, Champions League and Ballon d’Or.

The campaign started with a shock defeat to Saudi Arabia before Lionel Scaloni’s side, led by their talisman, pulled it together and went on to beat France on penalties at the Lusail Stadium after a pulsating 3-3 draw.

Messi struck twice in the final, which Argentina won when Gonzalo Montiel rolled a spot-kick past Hugo Lloris after two France misses.

The two-time Player of the Tournament sunk to his knees in euphoria before getting his hands on the iconic Jules Rimet trophy and lifting it with pride.

Although Messi has enjoyed some many huge victories and achievements, the World Cup win was undoubtedly his crowning moment.

But oddly, Messi has not sat down to watch the game back. Speaking to Argentine TV channel Infobae ahead of the Copa America in June, Messi admitted: I haven’t watched the World Cup final back yet.”

Although Messi hasn’t relived it, many fans have watched the classic game – which also featured a Kylian Mbappe hat-trick, countless times.

What has Messi said about winning the World Cup two years ago?

Though he is relying on his memory instead of footage of the victory, Messi has been reflecting on the “most beautiful” moment two years on.

He took to Instagram to shared two pictures of him with the World Cup trophy while drinking mate and wished a “happy second anniversary” to everyone.

Messi wrote: “I love December and the Christmas season. Two years ago, it could have been a bitter final month of the year, but it ended up being the most beautiful one of my sports career.”

“And now, every December, this memory comes back to me… Happy Second Anniversary to everyone!”

Messi has captained Argentina to another Copa America triumph since and there are still hopes that he will represent La Albiceleste at one final World Cup at the 2026 showpiece in North America, where he currently plays with Inter Miami.

Assessing his chances, Messi said: “It depends on how I feel, how I am physically, and being realistic with myself.”