Barcelona's Lionel Messi has rubbished the recent claim that the club depend on his presence in order to be successful following the player's dominant Champions League display against Celtic on Wednesday.
The Argentine played a pivotal role in the Catalan side's victory at Celtic Park against the reigning Scottish champions, scoring both goals, including one from the spot, to secure a 2-0 victory and a place in the last 16 at the top of Group C.
In La Liga however, the Spanish giants have been seen to fumble against some lesser sides with Messi absent from the side, including in their most recent endeavour against Malaga, where Barca could only manage a 0-0 draw.
Despite this, while speaking at an Adidas event viatheDaily Mail, Messi suggested that his individual talent does not hold up the club, and insisted that individual talent is nowhere near as important as the tactical and structural nous that Barcelona have throughout the who side.
"It's not like that," said Messi."I'm in the best club in the world, it doesn't depend on one player.We have a great team and I don't think about that.
"I'm in the best team in the world, [Barcelona] don't depend on one player." -- Lionel Messihttps://t.co/EuRjLsT2NB pic.twitter.com/sc8qQmb3AF
"Everything starts with order," the 29-year-old continued."In today's football more than ever you need a team that is organised, that knows how it has to move on the pitch.Order is the most important thing."
Messi's brace has now allowed the reigning Spanish champions to focus on their domestic form, with the club currently trailing rivals Real Madrid by four points after 12 games, and can go some way to closing that in their next outing against fifth placedReal Sociedad on Sunday, which is followed by El Clasico.
This is what happened when two young Scots boys met their idol Lionel Messi pic.twitter.com/rb621ADbkH