5 managers under whom Lionel Messi has scored the most number of goals

#3 Ernesto Valverde - 112 goals

Valverde giving instructions to Messi during a Champions League game

Despite winning four trophies and mentoring Lionel Messi in two of the most prolific seasons of his career, Ernesto Valverde was a highly controversial figure at Barcelona. Having joined the club in 2017, the Spaniard was unceremoniously ousted from his job mid-season in 2020.

Under Valverde, Barcelona achieved great success on the domestic front, winning back-to-back La Liga titles. He even tutored Lionel Messi to grab 112 goals under his tenure, with his 2018-19 campaign being the standout one for the Argentine. Valverde managed Messi for a total of 124 games.

His consistent failures in Europe eventually resulted in his undoing, with Barcelona crashing out in humiliating fashion under him. Valverde was responsible for two of the most embarrassing defeats in the club's history, infamously losing out to Roma and Liverpool in successive seasons. Considering the magnitude of his blunders, they will always cloud the Spaniard's numerous accomplishments at Barcelona.

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#2 Luis Enrique - 153 goals

Luis Enrique is one of the most celebrated coaches in the world

Another Barcelona manager with strong historical links to the club, Luis Enrique enjoyed a fruitful career at Barcelona. First as a player, then as a manager, Enrique never failed to win over the hearts of Culers all across the world. He was appointed Barcelona boss in 2014, following a disastrous spell under Tata Martino.

In his debut campaign, Enrique guided a star-studded Barcelona side to Champions League glory, winning the treble along the way. Spearheaded by the fabled trident of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar, the Blaugrana were practically unplayable in his maiden season.

The Spaniard masterfully unlocked the formula to proficiently utilize the mythical trio at his disposal. Lionel Messi arguably benefitted the most from his free-flowing tactics, scoring 153 goals in just three seasons under the manager. With Barcelona a shadow of their former self right now, the club have reportedly considered Enrique to helm their current project.

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#1 Pep Guardiola - 211 goals

Guardiola's spell at Barcelona is a tale of legends

The man who truly transformed Lionel Messi into the world-beater we know today, Pep Guardiola was responsible for the most successful period in Barcelona's history. With Lionel Messi as the focal point of his squad, the Catalan manager achieved unparalleled success from 2008 to 2012.

After the dismissal of the aforementioned Frank Rijkaard, club president Joan Laporta boldly made the call to hand over the club's reigns to an inexperienced Guardiola. At the time of his appointment, the Spaniard had only managed the Blaugrana's B-team, and therefore, his installment was considered to be an enormous risk.

Safe to say, the gamble paid off handsomely, with Guardiola winning a whopping 14 titles in four seasons. He famously masterminded the fabled sextuple-winning season in his debut campaign. Even so, Lionel Messi remains his most valuable contribution to football to date.

Under him, the Argentine blossomed into one of the best players to ever lace a pair of boots, scoring 211 goals in just 219 games. Through sheer luck, the world was able to witness the link-up of two of the most influential people in football, a partnership that may never be replicated in the future.

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