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The former Barcelona star spotted only one flaw in Lionel Messi's great legacy with the Catalans
Lionel Messi's tenure as captain of Barcelona, spanning from 2018 to 2021, marked a period of transition and significant challenges for the club. While his incredible contributions on the pitch are undisputed, questions have been raised about his leadership qualities during his captaincy.
Messi’s Transition at Barcelona
Messi assumed the captain's armband following the departure of club legend Andres Iniesta, as Barcelona underwent a period of transition. Despite his remarkable individual achievements, Messi's stint as captain did not yield the expected trophy haul, particularly in the UEFA Champions League.
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Although Messi's legacy at Barcelona is unmatched, his time as captain was marred by infamous Champions League defeats, raising doubts about his effectiveness in leading the team to European success. Despite winning the La Liga title in 2019, Barcelona faced setbacks in other competitions during Messi's captaincy.
Doubts Raised by Former Teammate
Former Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic, who shared the pitch with Messi during his captaincy, has openly questioned aspects of Messi's leadership. Rakitic, now playing in Saudi Arabia, hinted at communication issues under Messi's captaincy, suggesting that Messi's unique talents sometimes hindered his ability to provide clear direction to teammates.
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“Messi is the best in history, and if he put his mind to it, he could be the best left back in the world if he wanted to!
“Although he was sometimes not the best captain to tell you what you had to do, that was because he was unique and different,” Rakitic said, as per quotes carried by Diario AS.
Continued Success at Inter Miami
Despite the scrutiny over his leadership at Barcelona, Messi was immediately appointed as captain upon joining Inter Miami in July 2023. Under his leadership, Inter Miami secured their first-ever trophy in the Leagues Cup last summer, highlighting Messi's ability to lead a team to success.
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While Lionel Messi's status as one of the greatest footballers in history is beyond dispute, questions linger about his effectiveness as a captain during his tenure at Barcelona. The doubts raised by former teammate Ivan Rakitic shed light on the complexities of leadership in elite football. As Messi continues to lead Inter Miami and pursue success in new endeavours, his leadership abilities will remain a topic of discussion among football enthusiasts.
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