Former Manchester City and Barcelona midfielder Yaya Toure did not name Lionel Messi as the best player he played with during his career.
Toure, 41, was one of the best midfielders of his generation. He found his feet in European football during a season-long spell at Greek side Olympiacos in 2006 before moving on to French outfit Monaco, where he impressed further.
He then got his big break at Barcelona in 2007 but hit form in 2008 under then-manager Pep Guardiola. During his three-year stay in Catalonia, he was part of the 2009 ‘sextuple’ winning side that won La Liga, the Champions League, Copa del Rey, the Spanish Super Cup, the European Super Cup and the Club World Cup.
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Several world-class players featured during the trophy-laden campaign, but most fans credited Messi, who scored 47 goals in the calendar year, as the main reason for the historic feat. However, this was not enough to make Toure name him as the best player he had played with during his career.
It must be said that English fans will know the Ivory Coast international best for his successful spell at Man City between 2010 and 2018. The midfielder played with the likes of David Silva and Sergio Aguero during his time at the Etihad, but they too, were not mentioned when he named his ‘greatest’ teammate.
"[Lionel] Messi was top, [Andres] Iniesta was top, Xavi was great, but I will say Iniesta,” he told Arsenal Declan Rice when speaking to GOAL in 2023.
“He had something different. Playing with him, wow! It was something else."
"I learned more about technical skills and seeing things,” Toure added.
“Also controlling my back, because I, before, only saw straight: get the ball, turn, push, boom. When I went to England, it was easier for me.”
Toure made 81 appearances alongside the 2010 World Cup winner, notably partnering the Spanish duo of Xavi and Iniesta in the 2-0 victory over Manchester United during the 2009 Champions League final in Rome.
Despite naming Iniesta as his best teammate, Toure did admit that Messi had “given [him] so much joy” during his years at Barca in an Instagram message to the Argentine following his departure from the club in 2021.
The Ivorian previously expressed his admiration for Messi in an interview with BBC Sport [via the Mirror] in 2019.
"Messi is such a strange character. He is different and special,” he explained.
"You never hear him talking a lot, and he is always concentrating and focusing on his football.
"He is a perfect teammate and enjoyable to play with."
Topics: Yaya Toure, Barcelona, Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, Manchester City, Premier League, Football
Luke Davies