5 players Barcelona cannot afford to drop

#1. Lionel Messi

Barcelona v Sevilla - La Liga

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Lionel Messi has been Barcelona's most influential player this season. The creative Argentine is their real force going forward and his contributions in the final third continue to remain remarkably consistent, even in the face of adversity.

With 17 goals in 16 appearances, he sits comfortably at the top of the goalscoring charts in Spain. According to WhoScored.com, he averages 6.3 shots, 6.2 dribbles and 52 passes per match in La Liga with similar numbers in European competition.

He's been their most creative player, having created 34 chances (25 in La Liga, nine across UCL) to date in 14 appearances. Playing in the false nine role, the playmaker regularly drops deep into midfield - exchanging brilliant passes before accelerating forward to create and score goals with ruthless efficiency.

Messi netted four during Barca's 6-1 thrashing against Eibar recently and Valverde didn't shy away from revealing his feelings afterwards.

He said: "He is one of the most intelligent players I've seen on a football pitch. He's extraordinary. We played in a different way, without Luis [Suarez], but Messi is the same wherever you put him.

"From a play where it looks like nothing's going to happen, he can create something good for us... and bad for the opposition. That he scores four goals isn't news anymore. He's done this time and again, on many nights and in many games. He repeats it, loves football, enjoys it and never tires of winning."

With a superstar like that in your ranks, how could Barcelona even contemplate leaving him out, especially on current form?