Jordi Alba defends Messi and avoids parallels with Lamine
As Lionel Messi prepares for the twilight years of his career in Major League Soccer, one of his longest-standing teammates has stepped in to cool the rising excitement around FC Barcelona’s next big star.
Jordi Alba, who will retire at the end of the year after his stint at Inter Miami, offered candid reflections during an interview on El Larguero, a nightly sports program on Spain’s Cadena SER.
The conversation ranged from Messi’s legacy to internal dynamics at Barcelona, providing rare insight from a player who experienced more than a decade inside the club’s most successful era.
Messi’s shadow over Barcelona’s new generation
When asked about the frequent comparisons between 17-year-old winger Lamine Yamal and Messi, Alba did not hesitate.
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According to Cadena SER, he said: “Comparar a Lamine con Leo… no hay comparación posible. Leo Messi no tiene rival a mi entender.”
(“Comparing Lamine with Leo… there’s no possible comparison. In my view, Leo Messi has no rival.”)
Alba acknowledged Barcelona’s promising young group under coach Hansi Flick, but insisted that even extraordinary talents such as Pedri, Frenkie de Jong, or Yamal inhabit a different category from the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.
The viral photo at the Camp Nou
Earlier this month, Messi made headlines in Spain after posing for a photograph inside the Spotify Camp Nou, a moment many fans interpreted as symbolic. Alba laughed off the intrigue, telling the program that players who spent years at the stadium all feel some sense of belonging there.
“Todos tenemos la llave del estadio,” he joked, “we all have the key to the stadium”, before adding that he had no idea Messi planned to take the picture.
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A farewell that still feels unfinished
Messi’s departure from Barcelona in 2021, triggered by the club’s financial crisis, continues to be a painful memory for supporters and former teammates alike.
Alba told El Larguero that he has never discussed the exit in detail with Messi.
Even so, he believes the club will eventually host the tribute Messi never received. “When he wants it, I’m sure it will happen,” Alba said.
Asked whether Barcelona should rename the stadium after Messi, a recurring topic among fans, Alba remained cautious, saying he wasn’t sure Messi himself would welcome the gesture.
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The last months of his playing career
At 36, Alba confirmed that he will retire once Inter Miami’s season concludes. He admitted that the hunger that drives young professionals can fade with time.
He explained that his contract renewal had been planned, but he felt comfortable stepping aside, similar to former teammate Sergio Busquets, once he sensed the moment was right.
Reflecting on his career, he said he was proud of what he achieved but conceded that his fiery character “sometimes caused problems” during his years in the spotlight.
Keeping distance from Barcelona’s election politics
With Barcelona preparing for another presidential election cycle, Alba made it clear he has no intention of getting involved. He briefly noted that Xavi Hernández’s attendance at a recent event held by candidate Víctor Font must have had its reasons, but declined to endorse anyone.
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“Laporta doesn’t need my support,” he joked, adding that he plans to spend more time with his family and continue developing a project in L’Hospitalet alongside former teammate Thiago Alcántara rather than enter club politics.
