Barcelona chief Joan Laporta gave Lionel Messi a hug and then pledged to do everything in his power to convince the club's all-time top scorer to stay after being officially sworn in as the club's new president on Wednesday.

Laporta's pitch to Messi came two days after the Argentine matched Xavi Hernandez for the most appearances in club history with 767, marking the occasion by scoring twice in a 4-1 rout of Huesca.

"I'll do everything I can to make Leo stay because he's the best player in history," Laporta said in his speech at the Camp Nou as Messi and fellow captains Gerard Pique, Sergi Roberto and Sergio Busquets watched on.