Messi Named As The New Barcelona Captain

Argentina star ionel Messi was named as Barcelona's captain on Friday following the departure of long-serving midfielder Andres Iniesta, while defenders Gerard Pique and Sergi Roberto were named new vice-captains in a statement by the La Liga champions .

Messi, Barca's all-time top scorer, has been a vice-captain since 2015 and takes the club's armband from Iniesta, who succeeded Xavi Hernandez as captain in 2015 but left for Japanese club Vissel Kobe in June .

Midfielder Sergio Busquets was named first vice-captain, followed by Pique, who has been at Barcelona since 2008. It's the first time Pique has been named a vice-captain at the club .

Academy graduate Roberto took the final position, vacated by Javier Mascherano who left earlier this year for Chinese outfit Hebei China Fortune, despite only being a first team regular for three seasons .

It is the first time since the 2014-15 season that all the club's four captains have come through the club's famous La Masia youth academy .