Deco recalls protecting young Messi from Rijkaard's strict assistant: When he gains confidence, you'll be the first to leave
![FC Porto 4-4 Barcelona - Champions League winner ends glittering career with delightful goal past Lionel Messi's Barcelona boys FC Porto 4-4 Barcelona - Champions League winner ends glittering career with delightful goal past Lionel Messi's Barcelona boys](https://sportslens.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/deco-messi.jpg)
FC Porto 4-4 Barcelona - Champions League winner ends glittering career with delightful goal past Lionel Messi's Barcelona boys
![Barcelona Without Lionel Messi Unimaginable: Ex-Camp Nou Star Deco Amid Transfer Rumours | India.com Barcelona Without Lionel Messi Unimaginable: Ex-Camp Nou Star Deco Amid Transfer Rumours | India.com](https://static.india.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Lionel-Messi.jpg?impolicy=Medium_Resize&w=1200&h=800)
Barcelona Without Lionel Messi Unimaginable: Ex-Camp Nou Star Deco Amid Transfer Rumours | India.com
![Ronaldinho & Deco were completely out of control; to unleash the power of Lionel Messi, they had to leave Barcelona' | Goal.com Ronaldinho & Deco were completely out of control; to unleash the power of Lionel Messi, they had to leave Barcelona' | Goal.com](https://secure.static.goal.com/148500/148585_gallery.jpg)
Ronaldinho & Deco were completely out of control; to unleash the power of Lionel Messi, they had to leave Barcelona' | Goal.com
![Barcelona sold 'drunk' Ronaldinho and Deco to protect Lionel Messi, claims former Arsenal star Alex Hleb Barcelona sold 'drunk' Ronaldinho and Deco to protect Lionel Messi, claims former Arsenal star Alex Hleb](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/SPORT-PREVIEW-RONALDINHO-DECO-MESSI.jpg?strip=all&quality=100&w=1200&h=800&crop=1)
Barcelona sold 'drunk' Ronaldinho and Deco to protect Lionel Messi, claims former Arsenal star Alex Hleb
![Lionel Messi stars in Deco's testimonial as Porto's Class of 2004 draw 4-4 with Barcelona's 2006 side... But QPR target Samuel Eto'o steals the show with cheeky finish and pre match messing Lionel Messi stars in Deco's testimonial as Porto's Class of 2004 draw 4-4 with Barcelona's 2006 side... But QPR target Samuel Eto'o steals the show with cheeky finish and pre match messing](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/07/25/article-2706173-1FFD18BD00000578-922_470x423.jpg)
Lionel Messi stars in Deco's testimonial as Porto's Class of 2004 draw 4-4 with Barcelona's 2006 side... But QPR target Samuel Eto'o steals the show with cheeky finish and pre match messing
![Dead Ball Genius: How Messi Learned From Maradona, Ronaldinho And Deco To Become The Game's Greatest Free-Kick Taker Dead Ball Genius: How Messi Learned From Maradona, Ronaldinho And Deco To Become The Game's Greatest Free-Kick Taker](https://thumbor.forbes.com/thumbor/fit-in/1200x0/filters%3Aformat%28jpg%29/https%3A%2F%2Fspecials-images.forbesimg.com%2Fimageserve%2F74692033%2F0x0.jpg)
Dead Ball Genius: How Messi Learned From Maradona, Ronaldinho And Deco To Become The Game's Greatest Free-Kick Taker
![Barcelona's Lionel Messi and his team mate Deco (R) celebrate Messi's second goal against Sevilla during their Spanish first division soccer match at Nou Camp stadium in Barcelona September 22, 2007. REUTERS/Bea Barcelona's Lionel Messi and his team mate Deco (R) celebrate Messi's second goal against Sevilla during their Spanish first division soccer match at Nou Camp stadium in Barcelona September 22, 2007. REUTERS/Bea](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2E7AFHY/barcelonas-lionel-messi-and-his-team-mate-deco-r-celebrate-messis-second-goal-against-sevilla-during-their-spanish-first-division-soccer-match-at-nou-camp-stadium-in-barcelona-september-22-2007-reutersbea-martinez-spain-2E7AFHY.jpg)