Messi or 'the Midfield trio?

TBH, as wonderful as Messi is, I got more joy watching the *team* than the individual- and that team was orchestrated by the midfield, with the inimitable Xavi at its helm. Whenever Xavi wasn't on the field, it just didn't feel like Barça.

difficult choice but i'd go with Xavi-Busi-Iniesta.

Without Messi you'd have bought Cronaldo

My pick: always only Messi.

Without Xavi, Iniesta, Busi, we would probably have Thiago, Cesc and we would buy 2-3 players like Rakitic or Kroos.
Messi would win CLs with them also.

On the other hand, if you put Xavi-Iniesta-Busi and ANY other attacking trio, CL is not that certain anymore.
Especially if you have to face another team who has Messi.

Just imagine:
-- would you play against Real Madrid team in a CL final which has the same team as today + Xavi-Iniesta-Busi (at their prime) in their midfield against us?
-- or would you play against the current Real Madrid, with already good midfield and attack, plus they would have Messi (in his prime) in attack?

I don't want to play against Messi. Ever.
You can't win against Messi on larger samples.

Messi is an overpowered "cheater".

Damn the thought of Messi at Real. That would be modern day Di Stefano domination.

I'm a bit puzzled by the result.
Thanks guys for responding.