The subject of who would fail without the other, between Barca and its star player, Lionel Messi, is one that greatly splits opinion amongst football fans.
There are those who feel that the Catalans are a one-man team largely dependent on their Argentine superstar, and those who feel that Messi’s genius is chiefly due to his incredible supporting cast -who have been set up to play to his unbelievable strengths.
Those of the latter school of thought argue that the 4-time Ballond’or winner wouldn’t be the same player he is today were he to move to another team, pointing a finger to his inability to replicate his jaw-dropping statistics in front of goal for Barcelona with his country.
The little magician hasn't been that bad for his country mind you, far from it, it's just that he is not the same frightening prospect to play against for his national side as he is for his club.
On the other hand, others claim that the Catalan giants are two entirely different animals with and without their talisman, and with good reason too.
Anyone who watched Barcelona's 7:0 aggregate annihilation in the Champions league semi-finals last season, at the hands of eventual winners Bayern Munich will bear witness that this was not the same all-conquering outfit we have grown accustomed to- Messi missed the second leg after playing the first leg in Germany half-fit.
Let's also not forget the Catalans’ narrow escape to the semis, at the Nou Camp, in no small part to the introduction of their diminutive maestro in the second half of the game against a dogged and determined PSG.
In light of this and also considering the fact that a number of superstars - Eto’o, David Villa, Ibrahimovic, Deco, and Ronaldinho among others-have been shed by Barca in a bid to grant Messi the top dog billing he so much craves, I think it would be safe to assume that the Argentine is indispensable to the Catalan giants rather than the other way round.
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