Lionel Messi, Neymar Jr and more: Former Barcelona star Riqui Puig builds his ultimate footballer
Former Barcelona midfielder Riqui Puig has selected attributes from Lionel Messi and Neymar Junior as he bult his ultimate player. The 24-year-old has been with LA Galaxy since the summer of 2022.
Messi is widely regarded as one of the best players in the game's history, scoring over 800 goals for club and country. More than half of them - 672 - came during his hugely successful 17-year stint at the Camp Nou, with his last three seasons coming with Puig.
Meanwhile, Neymar - currently injured - also spent an impressive four-season stint at the Camp Nou, between 2013 and 2017, before moving to PSG, and then to Al-Hilal last summer.
Coming back to Puig - in an interaction on GOAL USA - constructed his ultimate footballer as follows, picking Messi for his left foot and Neymar for his skills:
"Right foot: Riqui Puig"
"Speed: Ousmane Dembele"
"Strength: Iniesta"
"Skills: Neymar"
"Passing: Xabi Alonso"
"Soccer (football) IQ: Modric"
"Left foot: Leo Messi"
In 57 games across competitions for Barca, Puig contributed two goals and three assists, with both goals and two of the assists coming in La Liga.
How Barcelona legends Lionel Messi and Neymar have fared together?
Lionel Messi and Neymar spent a hugely successful four seasons together at Barcelona since the Brazilian arrived in the summer of 2013 before leaving for PSG.
Four years after Neymar arrived at the Parc des Princes, Messi arrived at the club on a free transfer after ending his spell at the Camp Nou. In 206 games across competitions when the duo were together on the pitch, they managed an impressive 67 joint goal contributions. Forty of those goals were scored by Messi.
In four years at Barcelona, Neymar contributed a rich haul of 106 goals and 76 assists in 186 games across competitions. He won two La Liga and one UEFA Champions League title, which came as part of a continental treble in the 2014-15 campaign.
Meanwhile, Messi had a legendary stint at the Camp Nou, leaving in the summer of 2021 as their top appearance maker (778), goalscorer (672) and assist provider (303).
La Pulga also created a slew of other records at the club, including winning six of his record eight Ballon d'Or awards. Messi is also the only player to win 10 La Liga titles with Barcelona, most for a single club after Paco Gento's 12 with Real Madrid.