Lionel Messi names 3 managers, including Pep Guardiola, he loved playing under at Barcelona
Barcelona legend Lionel Messi has named the three managers, including Pep Guardiola, he loved playing for while he was at the club. Messi played at the Camp Nou between 2004 and 2021.
In 17 glorious seasons at the Camp Nou, the 36-year-old amassed impressive tallies of 672 goals and 303 assists in 778 games across competitions, winning a plethora of individual and collective honours.
Although he made his Barca debut under Frank Rijkaard in 2004, Messi achieved greater success under Guardiola and later Luis Enrique. Unsurprisingly, the duo feature in the Argentine's list of thee managers he loved playing under at the Camp Nou (as per Albiceleste Talk):
"I was happy in Barcelona under the management of Guardiola, Luis Enrique, and Valverde."
Messi played under Pep Guardiola between 2008 and 2012 and blossomed into one of the game's best players. After the Spaniard left the club, Messi found success under Luis Enrique - the current PSG boss - winning his second continental treble.
The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner's last manager at Barca was Ronald Koeman - in the 2020-21 season - following which Messi left on a free transfer and joined PSG. After two seasons, he would join his current club Inter Miami in MLS.
How Lionel Messi fared under former Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola
Lionel Messi was the crown jewel of Pep Guardiola's brilliant Barcelona team in the late 2000s and early 2010s. In four seasons, the Argentine made 219 appearances across competitions under Guardiola, smashing 211 goals and 94 assists.
Messi scored 38, 47, 53 and a staggering 73 times in the four seasons (2008-09 to 2011-12) under Guardiola. He won the La Liga three-peat in the first three campaigns - including a continental treble in the 2008-09 season.
The Argentine produced the best season ever by a player in European club football in Guardiola's final season in charge at the Camp Nou. Messi registered 73 goals and 34 assists in 60 games across competitions, including a 50-goal effort in La Liga, becoming the first player to breach that mark.
It was a shame that despite those staggering numbers, Guardiola's side had to be content with the Copa del Rey title that season, in terms of major trophies. Barca finished nine points behind Real Madrid (100) in La Liga and lost to eventual winners Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League semifinals.
They did win the Supercopa Espana, UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup, though. Overall, Lionel Messi won 14 of his 35 Barcelona titles under the current Manchester City boss.