5 longest-serving players on Barcelona's current roster

#2 Lionel Messi

The greatest of all time?

Joined the club: 1st July 2005

Contracted until: 30th June 2021

Seasons spent at Barcelona: 14

Ah, this man. Words do not begin to accurately describe how significant Lionel Messi has been to Barcelona and to the world of football, in general. Also a La Masia product, Leo Messi was a key part of Barcelona's greatest ever youth team - the "Baby Dream Team", which also included the likes of Gerard Pique and Cesc Fabregas.

The diminutive Argentine soon shot to the top, astonishingly representing 5 different Barcelona teams (Juveniles B, Juveniles A, Barcelona C, Barcelona B, and the first-team) in a single season as he rose through the ranks.

He soon befriended the sensational superstar who went by the name Ronaldinho and under the Brazilian's tutelage, began to develop into, perhaps, the greatest player the game has ever seen.

Messi has now spent 14 seasons at Barcelona, having scored a total of 551 goals in 635 appearances across all competitions, eclipsing a number of records along the way for both club and otherwise. Simply absurd!

To add to it, Messi has won an unbelievable total of 32 major titles including 9 La Liga titles and 4 UEFA Champions League titles. Further, Messi has also won a record (one that he shares with his arch-rival, Cristiano Ronaldo) 5 Ballons d'Or - the trophy awarded to the best individual player every season - during his time at Barcelona.

Easily the best thing to have happened to the club, Lionel Messi is widely regarded as one of the greatest players to have ever graced a football pitch, as well as a beacon of loyalty for continuously refusing to leave the club he loves.