Ivan Rakitic, the former Barcelona midfielder, has shared his honest opinion on Lionel Messi's captaincy, stating that the Argentine superstar was "not the best captain" during their time together at the Camp Nou, according to GOAL.
Rakitic, who played alongside Messi from 2014 to 2020, praised Messi's unique qualities as a player but highlighted his limitations as a leader. "Messi was a unique and different captain," Rakitic said in a recent interview. "He wasn't the best captain to tell you what you had to do."
Rakitic's comments suggest that Messi's communication style was not always effective, which sometimes led to issues on the pitch. While Messi's talent and work ethic are undeniable, his leadership skills have often been questioned, and Rakitic's comments add fuel to the debate.
Despite Messi's incredible success at Barcelona, including four Champions League titles and ten La Liga championships, Rakitic pointed out that the team failed to win continentally during their time together. "We lost the Champions League in 2018 and 2019," Rakitic said, hinting that Messi's leadership may have played a role in these disappointments.
Rakitic's comments have sparked a lively discussion among football fans, with some defending Messi's captaincy and others agreeing with Rakitic's assessment. While Messi's on-field achievements are unquestionable, his leadership style and ability to motivate his teammates have been called into question.