HThe fun gets even better when you share it with a friend. Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets have set a remarkable record that rewards unity.
According to the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS), the iconic duo who made history in the dressing rooms of Barcelona and Inter Miami played more matches together than any other pair in history.
Messi and Busquets, the most experienced duo
Lionel’s greatest partner throughout his career was the Spanish midfielder, with whom he played 653 competitive matches.
This figure extends to their memorable time at Rose, where they shared 13 consecutive seasons and appeared in 569 games between 2008 and 2021.
After some time apart, their careers reunited at Inter Miami in the US MLS from 2023 to 2025, where they played together 84 times.
In the history of soccer, only four pairs have played more than 600 games together. Busquets is again in second place, but he is joined by Gerard Pic, with whom he has played 620 games (87 for Spain and 533 for Barcelona). Gerd Muller and Sepp Meyer shared 611 games, as did Thomas Muller and Manuel Neuer.
Throughout their years as teammates, they won a total of 33 official titles with the Catalan club, including eight La Liga titles, three Champions League titles and three Club World Cups. In the United States, he played for Inter Miami, winning the League’s Cup in 2023, the MLS Supporters’ Shield in 2024, and the MLS Cup last December.
However, on December 6, Sergio announced that he would retire after winning the MLS Cup in 2025, which means Busquets and Messi’s number of matches will come to an end, and ‘Number 10’ will continue to play for Inter Miami until 2028.
Now preparing for the 2026 season, Leo and Inter Miami know that there will be some changes starting in 2025. They have to defend their title, but the new stadium has been completed and big names like Jordi Alba and Busquets are no longer there.
Inter Miami will open the season on February 21st away at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum against Los Angeles FC.
Then, on February 26, the friendly against Independiente del Valle will be postponed due to Messi injuring his left hamstring.
