Ranking the 5 greatest attacking trios featuring Lionel Messi

Messi, Suarez, and Neymar formed an incredible partnership at Barcelona.

Lionel Messi is an outstanding football player. With seven Ballon d'Or awards to his name, the Argentine has etched his name in the history books. Football is a team sport though and no matter the pedigree of an individual, it is difficult to achieve results without solid partners.

The Argentine forward left Barcelona last summer to join Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). In Paris, he found himself alongside Kylian Mbappe and Neymar in the attacking third.

🇦🇷 Messi
🇧🇷 Neymar
🇫🇷 Mbappe

Have PSG built the best front three of all time? 🥰 https://t.co/ulwmDDJmUV

While the partnership is yet to take off, on paper, it looks like the best trio in the world at the moment. The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner has always been surrounded by top-class players throughout his career at Barcelona.

Messi has been part of some really interesting attacking trio over the years. We take a look at the five greatest such trios featuring the Argentine.

#5 Lionel Messi - Zlatan Ibrahimovic - Pedro

Zlatan Ibrahimovic was not played in his favored position by Barcelona.

A bit of an odd choice here as the trio of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Messi, and Pedro only played together for one season. Thierry Henry was also in the squad for the 2009-10 season but Pedro's emergence restricted the opportunities for the Frenchman.

On paper, it is a strong trio, with Ibrahimovic starting in the No. 9 role flanked by his two teammates. However, the then-22-year-old Lionel had told Pep Guardiola that he wanted to play in the center, which relegated Ibrahimovic to an unnatural position.

Though the trio won the La Liga, Spanish Super Cup, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup that season, Ibrahimovic and Messi never clicked on the pitch. They combined for 62 of Barcelona's 98 goals in La Liga that season.

#4 Lionel Messi - David Villa - Pedro

Pedro complemented Messi's playing style at Barcelona.

David Villa signed for Barcelona just ahead of the FIFA World Cup in 2010. Having won the competition with Spain that summer, he traveled to Barcelona brimming with confidence.

While Villa was used to playing as a lone striker with Valencia, he quickly adapted to his role as the secondary striker to his 23-year-old teammate. Pedro was already adept at playing alongside the Argentine. He was also a teammate of Villa with the Spain national team, so the chemistry was already there.

📊| Leo Messi in 2011/12 season:

- 60 games
- 73 goals
- 32 assists

Impossible numbers! 🐐 https://t.co/mk6nvmDCbL

In the very first season, the trio helped the clubs win the La Liga, Supercopa de Espana, and the Champions League. They combined for 62 goals in La Liga in the 2010-11 season.

The trio's combined tally dropped to 60 the following season, with the left-footed magician alone scoring 50 goals as the club won the Copa del Rey, Supercopa de Espana, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup.