Source, worth reading

En la Argentina aún se debate por qué Leo no rinde como en el Barcelona.

-Porque no tiene compañeros como en el Barsa, entonces Messi se va más atrás, que es donde a él le gusta jugar, y no tiene la complicidad de jugadores como Iniesta, como Xavi, como Cesc, que realmente son los que hacen que Messi sea más fuera de serie de lo que ya es.

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Even Cryuff agrees Messi doesn't perform without Xavi or Iniesta

There's a difference between not performing and performing better with Sushi

2012: Xavi
2013: Messi
2014: Messi
2015: Iniesta
2016: Thiago
2017: Messi
2018: Deulofeu
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if only it was pele who said that

I agreethat he will eventually win the most ever. But I think it should be stated that Sneijder shouldve clearly won it in 2010, and also, Messi doesnt really have the competition other generations have had. I mean, Ronaldo is great, but he alone to the competition that was around anytime from the early 2000s backwards. Right now the whole world of talent is really in a transition phase with only really Ronaldo and Messi fighting for it. Xavis great but is only going downhill. Players like Gotze and Neymar are still developing. Ive been watching soccer a while now, and I have to say that theres not the competition there used to be.