Barcelona is one of the oldest football clubs with a rich tradition in the world. Not only that, it is also the birthplace of football legends whose names are closely associated with the memories of many. Most Barcelona fans around the world can list three to four legends they know. However, that's too few, and in today's article, Wintips admin will send you a Top 10 list of the best players Barcelona all of time - Ensuring that this list will satisfy all fans of the Catalan club, from the easygoing to the most demanding.
Top 10 best players Barcelona - Who are they?
1. Ronaldinho
Ronaldinho, a Brazilian footballing maestro, captivated the world with his unparalleled skill and flair during his prime. His mesmerizing dribbling, explosive pace, and audacious creativity propelled him to the forefront of the footballing world. In 2003, after a fierce competition among top clubs, Barcelona emerged victorious in securing his signature, defeating Manchester United in the process.
During his illustrious tenure at Barcelona, Ronaldinho enjoyed tremendous success, winning two La Liga titles and a coveted UEFA Champions League trophy. His impact on the pitch transcended mere statistics; it was the joy, excitement, and anticipation he brought to every match that endeared him to fans globally.
Ronaldinho's legacy at Barcelona extends far beyond his on-field accomplishments. He symbolizes an era of football characterized by artistry, passion, and boundless creativity. Even years after his departure from the club, his influence continues to inspire a new generation of footballers, ensuring that his name remains etched in the annals of footballing history as one of the greatest to ever grace the pitch.
2. Johan Cruyff - The best players Barcelona
Johan Cruyff was born on April 25, 1947, in Amsterdam, and passed away on March 24, 2016, in Barcelona. He was a Dutch football player and coach, widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time. During his playing career, Cruyff achieved immense success, winning the prestigious Ballon d'Or award three times (in 1971, 1973, and 1974).
He was also a prominent figure in the Total Football philosophy pioneered by Rinus Michels. In the 1970s, Dutch football underwent a transformation from relative obscurity to a dominant force on the international stage. Cruyff played a pivotal role in this evolution, leading the Netherlands national team to the final of the 1974 FIFA World Cup and earning the coveted Ballon d'Or for his outstanding performances in the tournament.
Known as "The Flying Dutchman" and "The Saint," he is revered as the greatest Dutch footballer of all time and one of the finest players in the history of the sport. His influence extended far beyond his playing days, as he went on to become a highly successful coach, imparting his innovative footballing philosophy to future generations of players and coaches alike.
3. Josep Guardiola - The best players Barcelona
Pep Guardiola was born on January 18, 1971, is a former Spanish football midfielder, and currently serves as the head coach of Manchester City. He devoted much of his playing career to Barcelona and captained the dream team under Johan Cruyff, which secured Barcelona's first European Cup.
Guardiola also played for Brescia Calcio, A.S. Roma, Al-Ahli, and Dorados de Sinaloa. He represented both the Spanish national team and the Catalonia national team. So Pep is now recognized as one of the world's finest football coaches. Following his retirement as a player, Guardiola transitioned into coaching Barcelona's reserve team, FC Barcelona Atlètic.
On May 8, 2008, Barcelona president Joan Laporta announced that Guardiola would succeed Frank Rijkaard as the first team coach. He signed his contract on June 5, 2008. In Guardiola's debut season as head coach, Barcelona achieved an unprecedented sextuple.
4. Michael Laudrup
Laudrup is renowned for his move to Barcelona's arch-rivals Real Madrid in 1994, where he won his fifth La Liga title of his career. Michael Laudrup scored 37 goals in a total of 104 appearances for the Danish national football team, a record only surpassed by Peter Schmeichel (129 caps) and Thomas Helveg (108 caps). From November 1994, he served as the captain of the Danish national team for 28 matches before retiring in June 1998.
In 1999, he was voted the best foreign player in Spanish football over the previous 25 years. Next, April 2000, Laudrup was knighted, receiving the Order of Dannebrog. In November 2003, to commemorate UEFA's 50th anniversary, he was voted Denmark's Golden Player by the Danish Football Association; the greatest Danish player of the past 50 years.
After retiring, Laudrup became an assistant coach of the Danish national team. He became manager of his former club Brondby IF in 2002, where he led them to the Danish Superliga. In May 2006, Laudrup decided not to re-sign with Brondby IF. In 2007, Brondby IF decided to name his steering bench at the stadium "Michael Laudrup Bench", which was approved by Laudrup.
5. Lionel Messi - The best players Barcelona
Lionel Andrés Messi Cuccittini, born on June 24, 1987, also known as Leo Messi, is an Argentine footballer currently playing as a forward for Paris Saint-Germain and is the captain of the Argentine national football team. Considered one of the greatest footballers of all time, Messi holds the record for 6 Ballon d'Or awards, 6 European Golden Shoes, and was included in the Ballon d'Or Dream Team in 2020.
Before leaving the club in 2021, he dedicated his entire career to Barcelona, where he won a record 35 club titles, including 10 La Liga championships, 7 Copa del Rey titles, and 4 UEFA Champions League titles. Messi scored a total of 464 goals in 563 matches for Barcelona. On his 18th birthday, Messi signed his first professional contract, which made him a Barcelona player until 2010. His breakthrough came two months later, on August 24, in the Joan Gamper Trophy, a preseason tournament for Barcelona.
6. Xavi Hernandez - The best players Barcelona
Xavier Hernández Creus, born on January 25, 1980, commonly known as Xavi, is a Spanish football coach and former player. He currently serves as the head coach of the Qatar-based club Al Sadd. He is considered one of the greatest midfielders in the history of world football.
Xavi spent the majority of his playing career with the Barcelona football club. He was named the best player of the UEFA European Football Championship in 2008 and was one of the top five players in the world for the 2007-2008 season according to FIFA. In total, he earned 104 caps for the Spanish national team, winning the UEFA European Championship in 2008, the FIFA World Cup in 2010, and the UEFA European Championship again in 2012.
So, Xavi is a product of Barcelona's La Masia youth academy and spent his entire footballing life at Camp Nou from the age of 11. He quickly progressed through the youth and reserve levels and was a key player in the Barcelona B team coached by Jordi Gonzalvo, which won the third division championship.
7. Rivaldo
Rivaldo Vítor Borba Ferreira, born on April 19, 1972, in Paulista, Pernambuco, best known as Rivaldo, is a former Brazilian footballer who played as a midfielder. He was named FIFA World Player of the Year in 1999 and won the Ballon d'Or in the same year.
The most notable period of Rivaldo's career was his five years at the Catalan club Barcelona, during which he helped the club win two consecutive La Liga titles (1998-1999) and the Copa del Rey in 1998. During this period, he also played a significant role in Brazil's fifth FIFA World Cup title.
In April 2004, he was included in Pelé's list of the 125 greatest living footballers. From 1993 to 2003, Rivaldo played 86 matches and scored 36 goals for the Brazilian national football team (yellow - green), and was a key factor in helping the team win the FIFA World Cup in 2002.
8. Andres Iniesta - The best players Barcelona
Andrés Iniesta Luján, born on May 11, 1984, is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder and is the captain of the J1 League club Vissel Kobe. Often regarded as one of the greatest midfielders in the history of football and widely known as one of the greatest players of all time, Iniesta spent the majority of his career at Barcelona, where he was the captain for three seasons.
Throughout his playing career, Iniesta has been nicknamed "El Ilusionista" (The Illusionist), "El Cerebro" (The Brain), "El Anti-Galáctico" (a play on words of the Real Madrid players, Los Galácticos), and "El Caballero Pálido" (The Pale Knight). Iniesta hails from Fuentealbilla, a small village in the province of Albacete, Castile-La Mancha, where he mainly played futsal due to the lack of football fields in the village.
At the age of 12, while playing for Albacete Balompié in a seven-a-side youth tournament in Albacete, he caught the attention of scouts from clubs across Spain. His parents knew the youth team coach of Barcelona, Enrique Orizaola, and he persuaded them to consider sending Iniesta to Barcelona's youth academy.
9. Ronald Koeman - The best players Barcelona
Ronald Koeman was one of the key players in Barcelona's dream team under the reign of coach Johan Cruyff. Despite being a defender, the former Dutch star was also known for his powerful playing style and impressive goal-scoring ability.
Koeman had a six-season spell at Barcelona. He played 264 matches and scored an impressive 88 goals. Koeman left Barca in 1995 after winning a total of 6 titles. In 2020, Koeman returned to Barcelona as the head coach. The coach, born in 1963, also led his team to win the Copa del Rey title.
10. Hristo Stoichkov
Hristo Stoichkov (born 8 February 1966 in Plovdiv) is a Bulgarian former footballer. He was the 1994 Ballon d'Or winner. Hristo Stoichkov began his professional career in 1984 at the age of 18 with Bulgarian First Division club ZSKA Sofia.
His highlights are his complete technique, high speed and extremely skillful left foot. After winning 3 league titles and 5 cups, in 1990 he moved to FC Barcelona in Spain. In 5 years playing at Barcelona, he and his teammates have won 5 consecutive La Liga championships. 1994 was a hugely successful year for Stoichkov.
Conclude
The list above comprises the best players in Barcelona of all time. Which the admin believes they deserve the highest recognition. It's no exaggeration to say that they are legends, individuals who have laid the foundation for the club's football. These outstanding personalities may perhaps take a long time to be replaced, if ever. At the current moment, Barcelona still boasts talented faces like Pedri, L. Yamal, or Cancelo... Of course, reaching the level of their predecessors takes a very long time. Let's follow and support Coach Xavi and his team on the upcoming journey. Don't forget to visit the betdirect bookmaker website daily to update yourself with many exciting sports/casino/promotional news.
See also: Highest paid Ligue 1 players in history - Mbappé, Hakimi and others?
