Xavi reveals which player came closest to Lionel Messi’s level – and it’s not Ronaldo

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Xavi and Lionel Messi shared the pitch for years at Barcelona, building one of the most dominant eras in modern football history.

Both products of La Masia, their understanding of the game developed in parallel, giving Xavi a unique perspective on Messi’s level and what set him apart from others.

Having witnessed countless elite players up close, the former midfielder has now revealed who came closest to matching the Argentine superstar during his impressive career.

Xavi names Neymar as the player closest to Lionel Messi he saw

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Xavi pointed to Neymar as the player who most closely matched Messi’s level, recalling the Brazilian’s immediate impact after arriving at Barcelona.

In an interview with Romario TV, he said: “Neymar arrived at a time when Messi was also around, but he was a bombshell for me. What I saw in the first week was spectacular. I haven’t seen a player closer to Messi than the 21-year-old Neymar who came to Barcelona.”

The assessment highlights just how highly Neymar was rated during his early years in Spain, when his technical ability and creativity stood out even among elite teammates.

However, the trajectory of his career has since shifted, with injuries and inconsistency contributing to a noticeable decline from those peak expectations.