Story byDavid Villa reveals his toughest opponent and it is a Barcelona icon: ‘Most difficult to dribble past’Barca UniversalSat, January 10, 2026 at 8:20 AM UTC·2 min readIt has been many years since David Villa last stepped onto the pitch wearing a Barcelona shirt, but his emotional connection to the club remains as strong as ever. The former striker, who played a key role during one of the most successful periods in Barça’s history, recently shared his views on some of football’s greatest figures, and his words once again placed Lionel Messi at the very top of the game. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIn a recent interaction, the former World Cup winner was asked to reflect on three separate but related questions: the best player he has ever played with, the best player he has ever faced, and the best player in the world today. Messi still the bestSpeaking to El Chiringuito (h/t Mundo Deportivo), he left no room for debate when he said,“Without a doubt. By far. I still say that until he retires, Messi will continue to be the best player in the world.”Despite Messi no longer wearing the Blaugrana colours, his legacy at the club and his influence on modern football remain unmatched. For someone like Villa, who shared the dressing room with Messi and witnessed his impact up close, the argument does not even require discussion. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe former striker also took time to reflect on other figures who shaped his career and left a lasting mark on Barcelona’s history. Villa has nothing but praise for Carles Puyol.