Barcelona's star-studded XI that helped Messi net five goals in Champions League

It is a decade since Lionel Messi enjoyed arguably his greatest ever night in his record-breaking and trophy-laden career.

The Argentine genius netted five goals in an emphatic performance of mastery as Barcelona blew away Bayer Leverkusen to reach the last eight of the Champions League.

Pep Guardiola's side had been leading 3-1 from the first leg in Germany and there was never much doubt about their progress through to the quarter finals, but the nature of the win was a statement.

Messi's five goals came in a landslide 7-1 victory as substitute Cristian Tello also netted a brace, as Leverkusen substitute Karim Bellarabi fired in the smallest of consolations when he curled into the corner in stoppage time.

It was a magical night for Messi and Barca, here is a look at that star-studded Blaugrana team from that historic triumph.

Victor Valdes

Barca's most decorated goalkeeper ever, playing 535 games for the club and winning 21 major titles, including six La Liga titles and three UEFA Champions League crowns.

Valdes went on to have brief stints at Manchester United - where he fell out with Louis van Gaal - and Standard Liege, before finishing his career at Middlesbrough.

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He went into coaching and was appointed Barca's Juvenil A coach in 2019 but was sacked soon afterwards after falling out with Patrick Kluivert, who at the time directed the club's youth operation.

Subsequently helped president Joan Laporta's successful election victory in March 2021.

Dani Alves

The Brazilian full-back won 23 trophies across his first eight-year stint at the club between 2008 and 2016, including six La Liga titles and three Champions League crowns.

The most decorated footballer of the modern era, Alves has enjoyed a remarkable and trophy-laden career, returning to the Camp Nou in November after five-and-a-half years away.

Will be aged 39 in May but is targeting a spot in Brazil's World Cup squad for later this year.

Gerard Pique

Another player who has enjoyed a remarkable career, Pique is still an instrumental player in the heart of Barca's defence.

Now aged 35, he is closing in on his 600th appearance for the club - whom he rejoined from Manchester United in 2008.

One of the most decorated defenders of all time, Pique also won over 100 caps for Spain - winning the World Cup and European Championships.

Javier Mascherano

The Argentine was converted from a holding midfielder into a central defender at Barca, forging a partnership with Pique.

A regular in the first-team for seven seasons - winning two Champions League titles along the way - he was an ever-reliable player in aggressive and front-foot defending.

Retired from playing in 2020 after a short stint with Argentine club Estudiantes and is now coach of Argentina's Under-20 side.

Adriano

Like his fellow full-back Dani Alves, the Brazilian Adriano joined Barca from Sevilla and enjoyed a distinguished spell at Camp Nou.

Joining in 2010, he was undisputed first-choice left-back in his opening campaigns before the arrival of Jordi Alba two years later.

Adriano did accumulate 189 Barca appearances with his versatility key as a squad player, before joining Besiktas in 2016.

Last played for Belgian club Eupen in 2020-21.

Sergio Busquets

Another of Barca's old guard who is still instrumental, holding midfielder Busquets provided the base for arguably football's greatest ever midfield.

With over 650 first-team appearances at the Blaugrana, Busquets had obvious limitations but he was the perfect player for the role of shielding the back four and progressing the ball from deep.

Handed his debut by Pep Guardiola in the coach's debut season, he went on to become one of the most consistent and reliable players of the modern era.

Xavi Hernandez

The midfield maestro was Barca's record appearance holder on 767 games prior to Messi breaking that record a year ago.

Won a remarkable 28 trophies across his career with Barca - becoming captain after the retirement of Carles Puyol - and the Spanish national team.

Is now of course the boss of Barcelona after years in charge of Qatari club Al Sadd, whom he joined after leaving the Camp Nou as a player in 2015.

Andres Iniesta

Xavi's midfield partner who succeeded him as the club captain when the former left for Qatar in 2015.

Iniesta was another fleet-footed conductor in the middle of the pitch, inevitably finding space and picking out the right pass in midfield.

Joined Japanese club Vittel Kobe in 2018, where he is still playing, having won nine La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues at the Camp Nou.

Will forever be remembered for hitting the winning goal for Spain in their only ever World Cup success - in 2010.

Cesc Fabregas

Somewhat surprisingly, this was the first of just three seasons of Fabregas at Barcelona - returning to England in 2014 to join Chelsea.

He averaged an impressive 14 goals per season back at Barca, where he graduated from the youth system, but won just one La Liga title and no European crowns during his stint.

The most advanced and biggest goal threat of Barca's midfielders, playing in a playmaker role for large part of the 2011-12 campaign as the formation was tweaked from a 4-3-3 template to more of a diamond-shaped midfield in a 4-4-2.

Pedro

Another La Masia graduate who helped provide the backbone of the squad of Barca's glory years, Pedro netted 99 goals across his career at the club.

With exits of star players Samuel Eto'o, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thierry Henry, the Spain international enjoyed greater prominence for Barca prior to the later arrivals of Luis Suarez and Neymar.

Netted 23 goals in the 2009-10 campaign and 22 times the following season but was often used as a substitute.

In the memorable win over Leverkusen, Pedro was Messi's main support act in attack.

Lionel Messi

There is nothing more to be said about Messi than has already been written.

Barcelona's record appearance holder and record goal scorer, but his tally of 672 goals - five of which came in the one game against the German opposition - was more than the second-highest, third-highest and fourth-highest in the club's history combined!

Arguably the greatest footballer ever to play the sport, Messi's era-defining spell at the Camp Nou ended in 2021, as he joined Paris Saint-Germain as a free agent.