After Andres Iniesta decided to continue his career in Japan’s Vissel Kobe, Barcelona had to appoint a new captain. As expected, this honor now belongs to their star player, Argentinian forward Lionel Messi. Iniesta captained the club since 2015, while Messi served as the second captain.
🔵🔴 @andresiniesta8 & Leo #Messi
From one captain to another pic.twitter.com/ssBM2L4Feo— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) August 10, 2018
This means that Lionel Messi will now serve as both the captain of his club and the captain of Argentina national team. He has been wearing the armband for Argentina since 2011.
One of the best players in the world is a natural pick for the captaincy, especially considering the things Messi has accomplished with Barcelona. Since making his senior debut in 2005, he scored 507 goals in 644, becoming the club’s best scorer in history. The 31-year-old also won 31 trophies with the club and numerous individual awards.
Messi’s role as the second captain at Barcelona will now be assumed by midfielder Sergio Busquets, who is one of the captains since 2014/15. Center back Gerard Pique, and midfielder Sergi Roberto was named the third and fourth captain. Roberto, who is youngest of the bunch, will replace departed Javier Mascherano.
All four captains are homegrown players, coming through the club’s acclaimed La Masia youth academy.
🔵🔴 Four Barça captains for this season: all from La Masia!
1⃣ Messi
2⃣ Sergio
3⃣ @3gerardpique
4⃣ @SergiRoberto10 https://t.co/3ZPXmJr6Ub— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) August 10, 2018
