Messi searches for a new partner

The start of the new season signals the beginning of a new era for Lionel Messi at Barcelona.

The Argentine is back in competitive action on Sunday for the first time since the 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich which prompted his transfer request.

What's more, Messi will be without his partner in crime - Luis Suarez - for the first time since the Uruguayan joined Barcelona in 2014.

Suarez was the latest in a long line of teammates to strike a bond with Messi at the Camp Nou after Ronaldinho, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Samuel Eto'o, David Villa, Pedro and Neymar, to name a few.

Suarez's departure to Atletico Madrid leaves Messi to play alongside Antoine Griezmann, Ousmane Dembele and Philippe Coutinho in attack.

There's also Ansu Fati, the great hope of the academy, plus Martin Braithwaite and Francisco Trincao as options going forward.

In midfield, Frenkie de Jong and Miralem Pjanic will look to feed the ball into Messi and his attacking associates.

In what could be his final campaign as a Blaugrana player, the mythical No.10 will want to go out with a bang.