Lionel Messi has become an icon in Barcelona owing to his many contributions to their successes in the last one and a half decades ago.
The 32-year-old has won four Champions Leagues and 10 La Liga titles among several other silverware with the Blaugrana.
He has been branded the greatest of all time in the history of the game having scored 627 goals in 718 games for the Catalan club.
The Argentine star is also the only player with a record six Ballon d'Or awards - one better his arch-rival Cristiano Ronaldo.
Meanwhile, former teammate Roberto Ayala has revealed that Messi "practically didn't speak" while spending most of his early days at the club in his room.
The 47-year-old ex-Valencia star claims the forward is someone who lives a solitary life and tends to avoid other people.
Ayala shared the same room with his countryman between 2005 to 2007 and told 90min.com: "[Messi] is a normal guy and likes to be treated like anybody else.
"He is a very friendly person and has grown a lot recently. Today, he is a leader on and off the pitch and speaks when necessary.
Recounting his time with the Argentine star, the former Valencia star said: "He practically didn't speak.
"He'd actually come out to train because it was obligatory, if not he would stay in his room. Now, he participates in everything, speaks to teammates, asks them how they are before matches.
"He also does things in silence that help the squad."
The Barcelona captain heavily criticised after losing three Copa America finals with La Albiceleste, while also coming unstuck in the 2014 World Cup showpiece.
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