Messi’s gesture to Iniesta in his last Copa victory

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Everything is pointing towards the fact that Saturday’s Copa del Rey final victory over Sevilla was Andres Iniesta’s last in Barcelona colours with it looking likely he will move to China.

It was a special game for the midfielder and he received a standing ovation when he was taken off in the final few minutes, even crying on the bench.

It was an occasion that his teammates were well aware of, with Lionel Messi making a special gesture.

In recent years, the two captains of the first team, this year Iniesta and Messi, would lift the title together, with the exception of 2016 when the whole team lifted the trophy together.

On Saturday, Messi did not want to take any attention away from Iniesta and insisted that he alone lifted the Copa del Rey.

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Here, we relive the three times Barcelona won the Copa del Rey and lifted the trophy before their fourth consecutive victory on Saturday night, a feat that has not been done since Athletic Club in 1933.

2014/15

Barcelona beat Athletic Club 3-1 at the Camp Nou with Xavi and Iniesta lifting the trophy.

2015/16

Barcelona and Sevilla met as they did on Saturday, Barcelona running out the 2-0 winners at the Estadio Vicente Calderon with the whole team lifting the trophy, led by Iniesta.

2016/17

The last official game at the Calderon saw a 3-1 win over Alaves for Barcelona, with Busquets and Iniesta taking up the role of accepting the title.

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