Dani Alves races to stop another Lionel Messi record at "less special" Barcelona

New Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez has made his teammate and Dani Alves his first signing and the Brazilian star is now working on stopping Lionel Messi collecting another record.

Barca had been holding talks with Dani Alves over the past week regarding his return to the club and have now decided to add him to their first-team squad when the January transfer window opens.

The 38-year-old was recently a VIP guest at Barca's Champions League clash against Dynamo Kiev amid rumours of a return to Camp Nou, and he has now penned a deal until the end of the campaign.

Alves is now working to maintain his active world record in football that he holds over Messi, with the Argentine - who is four years younger than him - hopeful of chasing him down.

The full-back became the most-decorated player in the history of the sport when he won gold with Brazil at the Tokyo Olympics, and returns to Barca after spells with Juventus, PSG and Sao Paulo.

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The Brazilian has won a record 42 trophies during his professional career - a total not including his Olympic gold medal nor his Under-20 success with Brazil in 2003.

Messi is second in the world on this measurement - he has racked up 36 trophies during his senior career, while he also won an Olympic gold medal with Argentina and the Under-20 World Cup with his nation - two years after Alves helped Brazil to their title.

Messi is likely to add several more trophies to his collection following his summer switch to Paris Saint-Germain, where he has a two-year contract.

Alves enjoyed a trophy-filled spell at the club during his first playing stint between 2008 and 2016, in which he won a total of 23 trophies - whilst playing alongside Messi.

He has now returned to the club after five-and-a-half years away, just months after admitting the Catalan giants were "less special" following the exit of the attacking star to Paris.

Alves said on Messi following his Camp Nou exit: "I'm very sorry for Messi and for Barça, but sometimes in life there are cycles that have to be closed.

"Messi will continue to be Messi and Barca will continue to be Barca, but a little less special.

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"Undoubtedly, because Messi is Messi a lot and he has shown it throughout his career.

"He has left everything he could to Barca, as well as all of us who were part of that time.

"I think we have been privileged to play in the best team that has ever existed in football. I want to wish Barca and Messi the best, they know that I love them very much."

The two players are among the greatest to ever play football and despite being close friends away from the pitch, are now renewing rivalries on it.