Xavi Told Messi to 'Stop F-----g Around' to Avoid Losing Ballon d'Or to Ronaldo

Denis Doyle/Getty Images

Lionel Messi has enjoyed a quite spectacular 2015 so far. His Barcelona team are on the verge of a treble—and a frank pep talk from Xavi may have played its part.

The club captain spoke to Messi at the turn of the year, at a time when manager Luis Enrique was under pressure and it appeared that Barcelona were destined to fizzle out of contention as they had done the season before.

According to El Pais (via the Daily Mail's Rob Draper), Xavi said: "We can't allow ourselves to repeat what happened last season and you know it. Do you want Cristiano to win the Ballon d'Or again? Stop f-----g around, Leo!"

Messi has scored 31 goals in as many games since then, and according to Draper: "At Barcelona, there are many close to the team who will say that difference in [Messi's] attitude has been marked."

[El Pais, h/t Daily Mail]