Throughout the years, a number of football legends have worn the iconic Barcelona striped shirt, gracing the Camp Nou pitch with their spectacular skills and performances.
With that being said, who are the five greatest players in FC Barcelona's history?
5. Ronaldinho
Acclaimed as one of the greatest entertainers in the sport's history, Ronaldinho enjoyed the peak years of his storied career with Barcelona from 2003 to 2008, claiming the 2005 Ballon d'Or.
The Brazilian icon was lauded for his extraordinary technical abilities, creative style, and dribbling finesse, in addition to his remarkable accuracy in free kicks.
During his 207 appearances for the club, he scored 94 goals, leading the club to two La Liga titles, two Supercopa de España trophies, and the 2005-06 UEFA Champions League.
4. Andres Iniesta
A product of Barcelona's youth academy La Masia, Iniesta joined the club as a 12-year-old in 1996, making his first team debut in 2002 and playing for the club all the way until 2018.
Iniesta earned praise for his exceptional balance, ball control, and agility in tight spaces, paired with his skill, composure, and finesse on the ball.
The Spaniard played a vital role in Barcelona's midfield alongside partner Xavi, contributing significantly to the club's success during their dominant period from the late 2000s to the 2010s. He scored the winning goal for Spain in the 2010 FIFA World Cup final against Netherlands.
Iniesta secured the runner-up position for the 2010 Ballon d'Or, following Xavi, with Lionel Messi clinching the top spot. This event marked the first instance in history where the top three finalists in the Ballon d'Or all originated from the same youth academy.
3. Xavi
Currently serving as Barcelona's manager, Xavi is considered by some as the greatest Spanish player of all time.
Xavi entered La Masia in 1991, breaking through the first team in 1998. He became renowned for his exceptional passing ability, vision on the field, ball retention skills, and intelligent positioning.
His partnership with Andres Iniesta in midfield was the cornerstone not only of Barcelona's success during their prime years but also of the Spanish national team, which triumphed in the Euro 2008, the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and Euro 2012.
As a manager, Xavi spearheaded the club's resurgence after a challenging period, securing the 2022-23 La Liga title and the 2022-23 Supercopa de Espana.
2. Johan Cruyff
The legendary Dutch is widely regarded as one of the greatest figures overall in Barcelona's history, both as a player and manager.
Cruyff joined Barcelona as the word's best player in 1973, transferring from Dutch club Ajax for a then world record transfer fee of $2 million. He led the club to their first league title in 14 years in 1974, and the Copa Del Rey in 1978.
In his role as a manager, Cruyff had an enormous impact, imprinting his style of play not only on the senior team but also on La Masia, the club's renowned youth academy.
Cruyff led the team to their first European Cup victory in 1992, marking a historic moment in the club's history.
His tactical philosophy laid the foundation for La Masia, which, in turn, nurtured generational talents like Lionel Messi, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, and Pep Guardiola.
1. Lionel Messi
Widely considered as the greatest football player in history, Messi joined Barcelona's youth academy, La Masia, at the age of 13 in 2000, thanks to the club's promise to cover the costs of treating his growth hormone deficiency.
This investment proved to be immensely fruitful, as the Argentine went on to make history over the course of his career. He became the centerpiece of Barcelona's historic dynasty from the late 2000s up until the 2010s, during which the club achieved unprecedented heights and displayed exceptional football.
Messi shattered numerous Barcelona records, including the club's all-time leading goalscorer and assist provider, amassing an unparalleled total of 672 goals and 303 assists.
However, Messi unexpectedly parted ways with Barcelona in 2021 due to financial constraints that prevented the club from renewing his contract.
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