World Cup 2018: 5 pairs of clubmates who will go head-to-head in the group stage

#2 Lionel Messi - Ivan Rakitic (Barcelona)

Lionel Messi and Ivan Rakitic pull the strings at Barcelona

Since 2014 Lionel Messi and Ivan Rakitic have been teammates at Barcelona. While the former is simply the Blaugrana's best player (and arguably the world's best), the latter was given the almost impossible task of replacing Xavi when he left the club in 2015.

However, the two friends will turn foes when their respective national teams play each other on the 21st of June in the World Cup.

Messi was on the verge of leading Argentina to glory last time, but the dreams were broken when Germany's Mario Gotze found the back of the net against La Albiceleste in the extra time of the finals. Argentina faced two further setbacks in the finals of the Copa America tournaments that took place in 2015 and 2016. This time in Russia, Messi will be praying that things go his way.

Rakitic, on the other hand, is a part of a very balanced but underrated Croatia squad. The team managed by Zlatko Dalic could be the surprise package of this term's World Cup and the Barcelona midfielder will play key role in. The 30-year-old along with Real Madrid's Luka Modric will be pulling the strings for the side.