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More than any transfer they could possibly make, Lionel Messi committing his future to Barcelona perhaps gives them hope of again challenging for La Liga and the Champions League. He is not only widely considered the world’s greatest player and the greatest of all time, he is so influential that Barça’s hopes of continuing to compete with Real Madrid are overwhelmingly reliant on him. While his future was uncertain the Spanish football landscape dominated by Spain’s two biggest clubs throughout Messi’s time as a professional was at risk of changing beyond recognition; Neymar, Andrés Iniesta and Arthur leaving were manageable because they retained Messi throughout.
Barça’s Liga and Spanish Cup double of 2018/19 took Messi’s total wth the club to 34 winners’ medals He also recorded his 600th goal for the Spanish champions, and 400th in La Liga, ensuring that he continued to break and set new records. He surpassed Xavi Hernández as the Barça player to win most matches, and beat Iker Casillas’ record in the Spanish top flight. His 10 Liga titles also keeps him on course to surpass Francisco Gento’s total of 12, set with rivals Real.