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Andres Iniesta omits Lionel Messi as he names his five favourite players ever

talksport.com, 24 February 2025, 17:13
Andres Iniesta has left Lionel Messi off his list of favourite ever players.

The Barcelona legend picked his five favourite players of all-time in a video shared to TikTok where he surprisingly left out his former teammate who many consider to be football's greatest ever player.

Iniesta had been asked for his list by user 'ofmanny' at the recent Match for Hope charity game.

However, the 40-year-old surprisingly omitted eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi, whom he played alongside for 14 years.

Instead, Iniesta included his former midfield partner Xavi, who made 767 appearances for Barca.

Iniesta also named his former Spain teammates David Silva and Santi Cazorla in his list.

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The trio were all part of their country's European Championship triumphs in both 2008 and 2012.

Meanwhile, fellow Barca icons Michael Laudrup and Pep Guardiola completed Iniesta's list.

Laudrup scored 54 goals from midfield in 226 appearances for the Spanish giants.

As for Guardiola, he spent 17 years with the club as a player, winning the Champions League as well as six league titles.

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There was no room for Messi, though, despite his 488 appearances alongside Iniesta.

The pair also won 32 trophies together between 2004 and 2018, including four Champions League triumphs and nine La Liga titles.

Messi did make the cut for both Silva and Tim Cahill, who also gave their own top five lists.

Silva also named Laudrup, Iniesta, Cristiano Ronaldo and Sergio Aguero in his selection.

Cahill, meanwhile, kept both Messi and Ronaldo as well as including Pele, Diego Maradona and Ronaldo Nazario.

Iniesta appeared at the event after announcing his retirement in October, having left UAE-based side Emirates Club in the summer.

He had previously spent 22 years with Barca after joining the club as a 12-year-old and making a total of 674 appearances.

Messi is still playing at 37, however, and is now into his third season with Inter Miami.

WATCH shocking moment Lionel Messi grabs opposition coach by the neck

The Argentine playmaker scored against Sporting Kansas City in the Concacaf Champions Cup last week.

He followed up his strike with a pair of assists in his side's MLS season opener against New York City on Sunday.

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