Barcelona star Lionel Messi captained the club for the first time for victory over Rayo Vallecano.

Andrés Iniesta gave the captaincy to the Argentine forward when he was subbed off on 63 minutes.

The absence of the three Barça captains in the starting line-up (Carles Puyol and Xavi due to injury, Victor Valdés due to suspension) meant that Iniesta started the match as Barça's captain. The substitution of the Spaniard in the second half, when the match was all but decided (3-0), saw the captain armband make its way to the Argentine.

Messi had already captained the team in various friendly matches.