Eleven games left for Lionel Messi's 11th Liga title
The Argentine has been crucial over the past decade
Barcelona's path towards the title continues on Saturday at Son Moix, when La Liga restarts and Leo Messi's side faces Real Mallorca. There are 11 steps, some very complicated - Sevilla, Atletico - to stay ahead of Real Madrid and win the title.
Between June 13 and July 19 a league title can be won, and if they do it it will be Messi's 11th, in 16 seasons in the top flight.
The Rosario-born genius, a hoarder of titles, will look to equal Madrid legend Paco Gento's tally soon - he has 12.
The 21st Century belongs to leo
Messi has not only marked the competition since he broke through, but world football too. The only player who has been recognised as someone who can rival him is Madrid's former forward Cristiano Ronaldo. Messi took the reins from Rijkaard and Ronaldinho's side in 2004-05 and since then has always ben a protagonist.
BROTHERS IN ARMS
It's not strange, then, that the majority of Barcelona players who have won the most leagues are Messi's team-mates. Andrés Iniesta (9 títulos), Xavi Hernández (8), Carles Puyol, Víctor Valdés, Dani Alves, Pedro Rodríguez (6)... along with current team-mates Gerard Piqué, Sergio Busquets (8) and Sergi Roberto (6).
In previous eras, Guillermo Amor (5), Ladislao Kubala (4) and Ronald Koeman (4) were important but they are out of the top 10. Only Antoni Ramallets and Josep Guardiola (6) can stay on the list.
CONSISTENT
Messi's Barca have maintained their excellence over time. The team has never gone longer than one season without winning the league, in the Messi era. Guardiola won three, Tito one, Lucho two, Valverde two and now it's Setien's turn.
Barca have a two point lead on Madrid going into the final 11 games.
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