Ex-Barcelona & Arsenal star Cesc Fabregas names only team-mate that could match Lionel Messi in the aura stakes

The World Cup-winning midfielder played alongside Argentine superstar Messi in the fabled La Masia academy system. He was then reunited with the South American when returning to Catalunya from north London in 2011 – winning the Liga title alongside the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Prior to that, the ex-Spain international had worked with another world champion – French forward Thierry Henry – at Arsenal. Henry went on to enjoy his own spell with Messi at Barca – between 2007 and 2010 – and is considered to occupy the same talent pool when it comes to inspiring confidence in those around him.

  • WHAT FABREGAS SAID

    Fabregas has told The Rest Is Football podcast of colleagues that made winning feel easy: “Thierry, I think, together with Lionel Messi are the two players who I felt much stronger when I was on a football pitch. It is like saying ‘Okay, this could not be my day, the team could not play well’ but you know you will always have Thierry Henry there to save the day.

    “There were games in the later part of my career, let’s say the last 8-10 years, I didn’t feel that any game was easy. Maybe when you are playing with Messi you can feel the confidence that he will make something special but always with Thierry. We were playing Everton at home and we were in the tunnel at Highbury before stepping onto the pitch and it is difficult to explain because I don’t want it to sound weird or arrogant. But I just knew we were going to win. That was the power of having Thierry there. I only ever felt this with him and Leo.”

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    WHAT NEXT?

    Fabregas has remained a close friend of Messi and continues to follow his career closely, with the enigmatic forward now in MLS with Inter Miami. Fabregas, meanwhile, has moved into coaching since hanging up his boots at the age of 36 and guided Como to promotion into Serie A after becoming a boss for the first time.