Striker lionel Messi has been confirmed as the new Barcelona captain, replacing departed club icon Andres Iniesta in the role.

Iniesta ended a career-long association with the Catalan giants at the end of the 2017-18 season, joining Japanese side Vissel Kobe.

The Spain midfielder appeared to symbolically hand over the captain’s armband to Messi towards the end of his final classic appearance against real Madrid in May.

Barcelona announced today that Messi will be the first of four captains for the new campaign, along with Sergio Busquets, Gerard pique and Sergi Roberto.

Messi was named barcelona’s second captain in 2015 and, having also skippered Argentina, was the obvious choice to take over from Iniesta.