Spain's national soccer team player Xavi Hernandez attends a news conference in Helsinki September 5, 2013. Spain will face Finland in the FIFA World Cup 2014 qualifying soccer match on Friday. REUTERS/Lehtikuva/Sari Gustafsson
BARCELONA (Reuters) - Lionel Messi and some of his Barcelona colleagues paid warm tribute to team mate Xavi on Friday after he extended his appearances record to 700 in the midweek King's Cup match at Getafe.
Spain playmaker Xavi, who will be 34 later this month, joined Barca's academy in 1991 at the age of 11 and made his debut for the first team under Dutch coach Louis van Gaal in August 1998.
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