Former Barcelona and Real Madrid forward Javier Saviola recently shared his thoughts on the most significant player he played alongside during his career. Surprisingly, his choice was neither Lionel Messi, Andrés Iniesta, nor Ronaldinho.
Saviola, now 43, is among the rare players who have represented both Barcelona and Real Madrid. While he made 31 appearances for Real Madrid, he is best remembered for his tenure at Barcelona between 2001 and 2007. During that time, he had the privilege of playing alongside a young Lionel Messi, who would go on to become an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.
In addition to sharing a dressing room with Messi at Barcelona, Saviola also played alongside him in the Argentina national team. While he acknowledged Messi as “the greatest of them all,” he identified another Argentine footballer as the most important teammate of his career.
Reflecting on his playing days, Saviola stated that he was fortunate to have shared the pitch with legendary players such as Ronaldinho, Messi, and Guti, among others. However, he singled out Pablo Aimar as the most significant partner he had on the field.
He explained that his connection with Aimar was unique, as they played together at River Plate, Benfica, and the Argentina national team over a long period. According to Saviola, Aimar was the player he understood best on the pitch, making their partnership particularly special.
Aimar, now 45, is best known for his spell at Valencia, but he and Saviola played together a total of 158 times across their careers at River Plate, Benfica, and Argentina. Even Messi himself has previously expressed admiration for Aimar, naming him as one of his idols aside from Diego Maradona.
In addition to Aimar, Saviola also highlighted other former teammates he deeply admired. He described playing alongside Ronaldinho as an unforgettable experience, praising the Brazilian for his unpredictability and skill. Saviola recalled how Ronaldinho’s creativity made training sessions and matches incredibly entertaining. He emphasized that Ronaldinho had a unique ability to deliver passes in unexpected ways, forcing teammates to stay alert at all times.
Another player Saviola held in high regard was Raúl, the legendary Real Madrid forward. Saviola admired Raúl not only for his skills on the pitch but also for his professionalism and leadership. He considered it a privilege to have played alongside Raúl and to have gotten to know him as both a footballer and a person.
Finally, Saviola reaffirmed his admiration for Messi, calling him “the greatest of them all” and acknowledging his place among the greatest players in football history. He recalled first meeting Messi as a young talent at La Masia and later teaming up with him for Argentina in 2006, including at the FIFA World Cup.
Through his reflections, Saviola provided valuable insight into the relationships and experiences that shaped his footballing journey, highlighting the immense talent he had the opportunity to play with throughout his career.