Is there a better sight in football than Lionel Messi dropping deep and casually playing through an inch-perfect pass for the onrushing Jordi Alba to latch onto? We're not sure there is.
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner had an innate relationship with Barca midfield metronomes Xavi and Andres Iniesta on the pitch but you'd have to say his telepathy with Alba is on the same level.
Messi regularly finds the former Valencia man on the left with defence-splitting passes and we saw the Argentine ace produce one of his very best last night in the win over Atletico Madrid at the Nou Camp.
It's poetry in motion stuff. The vision is one thing but Messi' execution is just sensational. He plays that very same lobbed pass on so many occasions and it looks perfect every time; that's why he's the best playmaker in world football.
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Unfortunately the 31-year old was denied one of the assists of the season as despite an immaculate touch, Alba hit the post and saw the ball end up in the grateful grasp of Jan Oblak on the rebound.
After a number of years as colleagues, the link between Messi and Alba is so natural that the Spaniard knows when a no-look pass is coming in his direction.
"Jordi Alba knows me to perfection," Messi told Catalunya Radio, via the Barca website, in September.
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"He knows when I will give him a no-look pass. I have a special connection with him."
Barca left it late at the Nou Camp but saw off 10-man Atleti with late goals in quick succession from Luis Suarez and that men Messi, who made both Diego Godin and Oblak look like absolute amateurs.
Just the 33 goals in the league for Messi this season. Not bad for the fifth best player in the world...
Featured Image Credit:Topics:Β Football News, FC Barcelona, Football, Atletico Madrid, Jordi Alba, Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Messi pass, La Liga
