5 most underrated Barcelona players of the 21st century
One of the biggest clubs in world football, Barcelona have been one of the dominant teams in the game since the turn of the century.
Featuring some of the greatest players of all time like Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi, Barcelona's glorious side under Pep Guardiola is often regarded as one of the best teams in world football.
Five most underrated Barcelona players since the turn of the century:
Despite the focus on Messi, Xavi and Iniesta, there are other players as well who have contributed to Barcelona's success over the years. On that note, let's look at the five of the most underrated Barcelona players in the 21st century.
#5 Adriano
A versatile player, Adriano was a good player at Barcelona, enjoying a trophy-laden stint at the club.
After making his name at Sevilla, Adriano joined Barcelona in 2010 on an £8.5 million transfer. The Brazil international could play at both full-back positions and was a reliable rotation option at Barcelona for six seasons, winning four La Liga titles and two Champions League trophies, among other honours.
The 36-year old made 189 appearances in all competitions for Barcelona before leaving for Besiktas in 2016. After leaving the Turkish club in 2019, Adriano enjoyed a spell with Athletico Paranaense. He currently plays for Belgian club Eupen.
#4 Seydou Keita
Barcelona have bought a lot of players from Sevilla over the years. They have brought the likes of Adriano, Dani Alves and Ivan Rakitic from Sevilla with varying degrees of success.
Seydou Keita was another such player who joined Barcelona after a successful season with Sevilla. Barcelona paid £12.5 million in 2008 to sign the Mali international.
Keita proved to a shrewd acquisition; he was a consistent presence in midfield and played a key role in Barcelona's incredible spell of dominance under Pep Guardiola.
Seydou Keita made 188 appearances in all competitions for Barcelona, scoring 22 goals. He joined Chinese side Dalian Aerbin in 2012 before returning to Europe to make appearances for Valencia and Roma. The 41-year old retired in 2017.
Also Read: 10 best finishers in world football right now.
#3 Victor Valdes
In Pep Guardiola's all-conquering Barcelona, goalkeeper Victor Valdes was a constant fixture.
A product of Barcelona's famed La Masia academy, Valdes is arguably the club's greatest-ever goalkeeper. The Spain international was a key presence in the Blaugrana backline, thanks to his leadership and shot-stopping ability.
Valdes made 535 appearances in all competitions for Barcelona in 12 glorious seasons at the club.
He left Barcelona in 2014 but was unable to replicate his old form. After making appearances for Manchester United, Standard Liege and Middlesbrough, the 39-year old retired in 2017.
#2 Javier Mascherano
One of the most underrated players of the modern generation, Javier Mascherano, was renowned for his aggressive style of play, something that endeared him to the Liverpool and Barcelona faithful.
The Argentina international's imperious form for Liverpool saw Barcelona snap up his services for £18 million in 2010.
After enduring a quiet first season, Mascherano slowly established himself as a key player of Barcelona's first XI. It was at Barcelona, Mascherano started playing as a centre-back after playing as a defensive midfielder at Liverpool.
Mascherano made 334 appearances for Barcelona, scoring just once. A hard-working, physical player, the 36-year old subsequently played for the likes of Hebei China Fortune and Estudiantes after leaving Barcelona in 2018. He retired from the game last year.
#1 Pedro
A product of Barcelona's La Masia academy, Pedro was another key player in Pep Guardiola's dominant team.
Guardiola was aware of Pedro's prowess during his time in charge of Barcelona B. The forward made his senior team debut in 2008, but it was only in the 2009-10 season when Pedro became a permanent member of the first team.
A hard-working forward with good pace and technical ability, the Spain international proved to be an ideal foil for Lionel Messi.
Pedro made 321 appearances in all competitions for Barcelona, scoring 99 goals. He joined Chelsea in 2015, making more than 200 appearances in all competitions for the Blues. The 33-year old currently plays for Serie A side Roma.
Also Read: 5 midfielders who could replace Luka Modric at Real Madrid.
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