Xavi explains how Lionel Messi could have boosted Spain

Lionel Messi was offered a spot in Spain’s youth team.

Xavi thinks that Lionel Messi’s success during each of their individual heydays was what set Barcelona apart from Spain.

Xavi still has a lot of admiration for Messi, his old Barcelona teammate who won the World Cup in 2022 and finally claimed the trophy that has eluded him in his playing career. Although Spain won the World Cup in 2010 and the European Championships in 2008 and 2012, Xavi thinks the Inter Miami player might have had a big impact.

Barcelona claimed the Champions League twice and LaLiga three times between 2008 and 2012. Messi became arguably the best player to ever play the game during that span, scoring 211 goals.

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.”

Messi had the opportunity to play for Spain, but he chose to play for Argentina instead. He did, however, struggle with the national team, making it to numerous finals but failing to take home the trophy.

Nevertheless, his curse with the national team was finally broken when he won the Copa America in 2021. The FIFA World Cup, football’s most prized trophy, was finally in Messi’s grasp the following year.

He added the third major championship to his national team career in 2024 by winning Copa America, continuing his stellar record with the team. The 37-year-old now still has a few years left to play for the national team. With the 2026 World Cup approaching he could be playing in the competition if he decides to play until then.

After Inter Miami’s unexpected playoff loss to Atlanta United, his MLS season was finished. However, Messi has been crowned the division’s MVP and is taking a well-earned vacation before play is back in 2025.

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