Barca success doesn't depend on me, says Messi

Cape Town - Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi has denied claims that the Spanish giants rely too much on him for their success.

The Argentine missed the Catalans' goalless draw with Malaga last weekend, but then returned to action in midweek to score twice as Barca beat Celtic in the Champions League. 

After the European clash, Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers suggested that the result may have been reversed if Messi was in his team instead of the visitors'.

However, Messi doesn't believes Barca struggle to maintain their level without him in the team.

"I don't consider talk of Barca being Messi-dependent to be praise or a concern because it's not the case," the 29-year-old said at an event in Barcelona on Thursday. "I'm in the best team in the world, [Barca] don't depend on one player."

Barca's next challenge is a trip to Real Sociedad on Sunday, a team they have not beaten on the road since 2007.

"Anoeta is a complicated stadium where we haven't won in years," Messi added. "[La Real] always make things tough for us there and it's going to be a hard game.

"In football these days it's important to be organised. To have a team that is well-organised is the most important thing. To have a good team everything starts there."

Kick off will get underway at 21:45.