Lionel Messi has been handed the captain’s armband at Barcelona, following the departure Andrés Iniesta to Vissel Kobe.

Messi, who is widely considered the greatest player on the planet, has been at the club all his life.

Messi has captained Barcelona on several occasions in the past and has led the Argentina national team for the past seven years.

The forward will share the responsibility with Sergio Busquets, Gerard Piqué and Sergi Roberto, who will act as vice-captains throughout the upcoming La Liga season.

Barcelona go into the season as La Liga champions off the back of a productive summer, bringing in Malcom from Bordeaux, Arthur from Grêmio and keeping hold of Ousmane Dembélé, who was linked with a move away to Arsenal.

They also managed to shift some deadwood in Yerry Mina, Lucas Digne and André Gomes, who all joined Everton.

Barça boss Ernesto Valverde will be confident of his chances of retaining his league title after Real Madrid sold Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus.

It should be noted, however, that Spanish clubs still have until the end of August to buy and sell players, despite the Premier League’s transfer window shutting early.