Barcelona's Ter Stegen snubs Messi in best XI of team-mates across his career

Barcelona's Ter Stegen snubs Messi in best XI of team-mates across his career

Marc-Andre ter Stegen has named his dream XI of current and former team-mates, and there is no place for Lionel Messi in the side.

The goalkeeper’s time with Borussia Monchengladbach, Barcelona and Germany has seen him play alongside many top stars.

With a wide range of big names to choose from, Ter Stegen has listed a solid XI, but omitted the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner.

What has been said?

Ter Stegen opted to line his team up in a 4-4-2 diamond formation and listed seven former or current Barcelona heroes.

Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Frenkie de Jong were all given the nod.

Click Here:

But the likes of Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez were all snubbed by the 29-year-old.

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Janis Blaswich, Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger and Germany team-mates Marco Reus and Mario Gotze were also named in the team.

The full XI is: Blaswich; Alves, Pique, Rudiger, Alba; Busquets; Xavi, Iniesta; De Jong; Reus, Gotze.

Why did Ter Stegen leave Messi out?

Ter Stegen did not mention his former team-mate when listing his team and did not explain why he did not make the cut.

Article continues below

But the shot-stopper suggested that the pair did not always get along when he posted a farewell message on Instagram after it was confirmed Messi had left Camp Nou.

He wrote in the caption: “Although from time to time we did not share the same opinion, we always went in the same direction and each of us grew as a person regardless of winning or losing.”

Further reading