Lionel Messi's shock announcement that he wants to leave Barcelona looks like the opening salvo in negotiations around the fine details of his contract and the all-important get-out clause.
The 33-year-old Argentine has announced his wish to leave the club whose academy he joined at the age of 13, beginning a glittering career which has soured over the past 12 months under the management of president Josep Maria Bartomeu.
If Messi does leave - and that is far from certain - there is not a club on the planet that wouldn't want him in their side.
Every season his stats have proved what a great player he is, as the gallery above shows.
In total, he has played 731 times for Barcelona, scoring an incredible 634 goals and contributing 285 assists.
Above is a picture gallery of his amazing record. To move through the seasons, simply swipe or click on the arrows.
