Xavi has long been an advocate of the Johan Cruyff-inspired Barcelona philosophy, one which remains true to the club's style. Two things have tweaked it, the first being Lionel Messi.
“Before Messi, we had more control of the ball, more passes, more play,” Xavi told this writer in November after Messi was again listed to be a contender for a Ballon d’Or.
“Then he became the focus of the attack. Now, it’s Neymar, Suarez and Messi.
As soon as they get the ball they’re out to attack. So there’s a little less possession and a little more direct attacking.”
Photo gallery: Barcelona's Lionel Messi makes his case for 2015 Ballon d'Or award
Two of Barca’s front three are finalists for Monday’s award in Zurich, with Luis Suarez unfortunate to miss out on the three man list. Xavi knows Messi very well – and he thinks he is the greatest player ever.
“Pele and Maradona both made huge differences, but football has evolved,” explained Xavi. “The players are better than they were, the game is better. Physically, tactically, technically and psychologically, football is better than ever.
“And Messi stands out as the best at the best time in the history of football.”
Xavi has seen him develop from a player so quiet that the only doubts about him making it at Barcelona were because he barely spoke, to one who left no doubts after his debut at 16. Xavi saw the boy become a man and deal with the enormous pressure of being a global icon.
“He’s matured, he’s more responsible,” said Xavi. “He’s become a man. He’s shy, but when he has your confidence and trust you see what he’s like and he’s a very good person.
“He’s a joker, one of the biggest in the dressing room. He’s witty, very ironic in his humour. He’s intelligent. He is clever. Most of all, he’s a winner.”
Read about the other Ballon d’Or award candidates:
Neymar’s emphasis on the Barcelona collective sets him apart for Ballon d’Or award
Cristiano Ronaldo, rewriting history for Real Madrid, deserves Ballon d’Or over Barcelona rivals
Messi has won a record four Ballon d’Ors – four years in succession between 2009 and 2012 when the award switched slightly to become the Fifa Ballon d’Or.
Cristiano Ronaldo has won it in each of the last two years and the pair have dominated football’s individual honours since 2008. Ronaldo is the third finalist for the 2015 award after the 23-man long list was whittled down.
Messi should win it. He was the best player in the world’s best team last season.
He made the difference in the biggest games against the biggest teams, scoring sublime goals as Barca eliminated the champions of the Netherlands, England, France, Germany and Italy on the way to winning a fourth Champions League in a decade.
His side’s second goal against Bayern Munich in the semi-final first leg, where he chipped Manuel Neuer, widely rated as the world’s best goalkeeper, was sensational.
And Ronaldo, his nemesis with whom he shares a distant but improving relationship and respect, is one major reason why Messi is so good.
“Messi is the greatest footballer ever, but he wouldn’t be as good without Ronaldo,” said Xavi. “He wouldn’t have won all those Ballon d’Ors. And I don’t think Ronaldo would have won them all too.
“They push each other. The difference between the two is that while they’re both great goalscorers, Messi is much more involved in the play of the team. Messi touches the ball 100 times in a game, Ronaldo 30. There’s a big difference.”
Last year was when Messi’s partnership with Neymar and Suarez continued to develop and he won everything for his club – five major trophies.
It was a spectacular year and he rightly bristled when an Argentine journalist pushed him on perceived failures such as Argentina’s in the Copa America in Chile and the World Cup in Brazil a year previous.
Messi told South American TV: “We got to the World Cup final and the Copa. We didn’t win them but we didn’t lose in the quarter finals.
“Sometimes you don’t know if that would be better or worse. I hear them say that we don’t care about the shirt, that we don’t put our all into it.
“It’s not about not giving your all. We’re the first ones that want to win and celebrate.”
It was a seldom seen fire in interviews, but it shows how criticism from his homeland irks. Messi was out for 10 weeks towards the end of the year and Barca actually improved without him.
That quietened those who had talked of an unhealthy dependence on Messi in the team, but when a team needs a player, there is not one player on the planet who can compete with Lionel Messi.
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