10 How I Met Your Mother Moments That Prove Barney Is REALLY Ted's Best Friend

While Ted has a large and lively friend group, they don’t love him much. Lilly is Marshall’s girlfriend then fiancee then wife so she is only a friend by association and would never see Ted if he ever had a falling out with Marshall. While Marshall might have been a good friend in college, by the time HIMYM starts Ted is more of a third wheel in his relationship with Lilly. He is a roommate they hang out with once in a while. Lilly and Marshall are fond of him but they don't hold him in especially high regard. They go as far as making bets about his life and possible future failures.

Ted may have been hopelessly in love in Robin but she never feels the same way. Her career and aspirations come first and Ted is no more than a fun distraction. She moves on surprisingly quickly after their first break-up and doesn't hesitate to rub her rebound boyfriend in Ted’s face.

Barney is the only one who doesn’t hold a low opinion of Ted. He is the only one who would drop everything for Ted. Barney is the only person who put his own career on the line for Ted.