'He's not the best captain': Rakitic questions former Barca teammate's leadership

Lionel Messi’s qualities as a captain have come under scrutiny from former Barcelona team-mate Ivan Rakitic.

The Argentine was Barca's captain from 2018 until 2021 when he decamped to Paris Saint-Germain at the end of his contract.

Rakitic who now plies his trade with Al-Shabab in the Saudi Pro League admitted: “Messi is the best in history.

“And if he put his mind to it, he could be the best left back in the world if he wanted to! Although he was sometimes not the best captain to tell you what you had to do, that was because he was unique and different.”

Messi lifted a Spanish La Liga title and a Copa del Rey as captain, the first non-European player to wear the armband in the club’s history.

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