Lionel Messi turns 38 - Which players have most goal participations with the Argentine across his career?

Direct goals & assists 

It's time to wish happy birthday to the great Lionel Messi who turns 38 years of age today. The Argentine has enjoyed a spectacular career in which he has won four Champions Leagues, 12 top-five league titles, the World Cup, two Copa Américas and eight Ballon d'Ors. Whilst his best days are clearly behind him, he is still showcasing his mercurial talent even in his late 30s, highlighted by his superb free-kick in Inter Miami's Club World Cup win against Porto last week. No player has completed more dribbles than Messi at this summer's tournament so far.

Across his career he has played with a number of incredibly talented teammates for club and country, but which stars have had the best link up with Messi over the years? At Transfermarkt, we have calculated the players with the most direct goal participations (direct goals and assists) with the Argentine over the course of his career, and it makes for a star studded list. 

Which players have most goal participations with Lionel Messi?

Leading the way is Uruguayan striker Luis Suárez, who has as many as 116 goal participations (gp) with Messi at Barcelona and now Inter Miami. The pair are great friends and have played 302 matches together. In second position is the third member of the famous Barca 'MSN' trio in Neymar - the Brazilian has 67gp with Messi from 206 games at Barcelona and PSG. In third is former Barca winger Pedro with 54gp in 270 matches with the Argentine. Fourth goes to legendary Barca midfielder Andrés Iniesta, who registered 53gp in 489 games with Messi.

In fifth is Brazilian full-back Dani Alves, who managed 48gp in 349 Barcelona games with Messi. He is followed in sixth by Xavi - the Spaniard had 42gp in 399 games with the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner. Seventh goes to Jordi Alba, who has registered 42gp in 395 matches at Barca and now Miami. In eighth is Kylian Mbappé, who managed 34gp in just 67 games with Messi at PSG. Midfielder Sergio Busquets takes ninth with 29gp in a staggering 625 matches with the Argentine at Barcelona and Inter Miami, whilst Croatian Ivan Rakitic completes the top 10 with 27gp in 277 games.