Lionel Messi for Spain? Xavi explains how Barcelona GOAT would have made national team more dominant if he declined Argentina call-up

Xavi remains a huge fan of his former Barcelona team-mate Messi, who finally capped his glittering career with a World Cup victory in 2022. Spain won the European Championships in 2008 and 2012, as well as the World Cup in 2010, but Xavi believes the Inter Miami star could have made a significant difference.

Between 2008 and 2012, Barcelona won La Liga three times, as well as the Champions League twice. In that time, Messi scored 211 goals as he became perhaps the greatest player to ever play the game.

Xavi told Relevo: “Perhaps the difference between Barca and Spain was Messi. We didn’t have Leo in the national team, we didn’t have such a differential player, we had to rely more on the team as a whole.

“But we also achieved success – Euros, World Cup, Euros. And at Barca we had a very good generation that achieved everything.”

The MLS season is over for Inter Miami, having suffered a shock play-off defeat to Atlanta United, but Messi has been named the division's MVP and is enjoying a well-earned break before competitive action resumes in 2025.