Barcelona legend Lionel Messi is surprisingly absent from the list of stars taking part in the “first ever El Clasico in Japan”.

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• World Cup winner Iniesta now retired
• Legends 'Clasico' lined up in Asia
• Messi will not feature after MLS season

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner sent records tumbling across his iconic spell at Camp Nou. Messi plundered 672 goals for the Blaugrana, helping them to 10 La Liga titles and four Champions League crowns. Much of that success was enjoyed alongside fellow La Masia academy graduate and World Cup winner Andres Iniesta.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  With ex-Spain international Iniesta choosing to hang up his boots at 40 years of age, an exhibition match has been arranged in honour of an all-time great midfielder that spent five years with Vissel Kobe after bidding farewell to Barca in 2018.

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  A contest that is being billed as "A Historic Match: The First-Ever 'El Clasico' in Japan" will take place at the Ajinomoto Stadium in Tokyo on December 15, with iconic stars from Barcelona and Real Madrid’s illustrious histories preparing to take to the field.

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  The likes of Xavi, Rivaldo, Javier Mascherano, Rafa Marquez, Bojan Krkic, Adriano, Ludovic Giuly, Javier Saviola, Roberto Carlos, Luis Figo, Iker Casillas, Julio Baptista, Steve McManaman, Savio and Ivan Campo will all be involved, but there is no Messi.

Tags: Futebol
Category: News