Top 10 greatest Barcelona midfielders of all-time

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Nou Camp has been home to some of the greatest midfielders in the game

Spanish giants FC Barcelona have gained worldwide recognition as one of the top three clubs in the world. With their famous dictum Mes Que Un Club, La Blaugrana truly are more than just a club, representing a vastly different Catalonian culture compared to that of Spain under Francisco Franco.

Throughout their history, the club has seen a fair share of unprecedented success and downfalls, while establishing themselves as one of the greatest clubs on the footballing stage. It is currently home to the greatest footballer who ever lived - Lionel Messi.

While Messi has been stealing glances of people around the globe, one cannot undermine the fact that a mammoth part of the credit of Barcelona's glory is down to the midfielders who have graced the Nou Camp.

With a plethora of world-class midfield talent in Barcelona's history, let's see the top ten monumental midfielders who have helped the club become the king-sized alliance they are today.


#10: Guillermo Amor

AMOR BARCELONA
Amor played ten seasons at the Nou Camp

A spindly-built player with great athleticism, Guillermo Amor was an important centrepiece under Johan Cruyff. Being a product of the youth ranks, the Spaniard is regarded as one of the most loyal servants of the club.

A down-to-earth and hardworking midfielder in his playing days, Guillermo Amor was the no.10 playmaker who had gained mastery in the art of creating spaces for fellow teammates that led to goals.

The midfielder was also known for having excellent composure on the ball along with efficient technique and threatening forward runs. Due to his attitude as a player, he became a role-model for many youngsters at the club, including Pep Guardiola.

In a career that spanned ten years at the Nou Camp, Amor made a total 490 appearances and scored 90 goals for the club.

#9: Phillip Cocu

Phillip Cocu of Barcelona
Phillip Cocu rose to prominence under Louis Van Gaal at Barcelona

A tireless general in the midfield, Dutchman Philip Cocu made a name for himself under Louis Van Gaal at Barcelona. It was a bit of bad luck that Cocu played for Barcelona in their darkest times as the world failed to recognize his potential on the field.

A left-footed player, known for his technique and vision, the Dutchman was an attacking midfielder and played together with giants like Rivaldo and Luis Figo.

Louis Van Gaal is a winner no doubt, but it is really a tough job finding people who don't throw jibes at him. Cocu, however, turned out to be the opposite after citing the fellow Dutchman as the reason for his rise to fame.

Cocu replaced Giovanni in the midfield and partnered Luis Enrique, proving to be the driving motor in the Van Gaal era at the Nou Camp. He is one of the rare species to convert positions successfully. His versatility allowed him to be an equally effective defensive midfielder as an attacking playmaker.

Before the arrival of Lionel Messi, Cocu boasted the most number of appearances by a foreigner for Barcelona. The playmaker appeared 291 times in a course of six seasons and scored 31 goals for the club. For is relentless services to Barca, Cocu rightly walks the hall of fame at the Nou Camp.

#8: Luis Enrique

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Luis Enrique was well known for his leadership skills

The world might remember Luis Enrique as the man who masterminded the greatest Champions League comeback of all time, but the Spaniard was an equally influential right midfielder during his playing days for La Blaugrana.

A deep study of his career lightens up the fact that Luis Enrique was a brilliant versatile midfielder capable of playing in any midfield position. Albeit he played as a winger frequently, the Spaniard also partnered Philip Cocu in the centre during the twilight at his career.

A relentless and hardworking midfielder, Enrique was well-known for his terrific work ethic and stamina on the football pitch. A player known for his leadership qualities on the pitch, Enrique was one of the 32 players who donned both the Barcelona and Real Madrid shirts.

Although he may be a Real Madrid player in the past, the Spaniard was a loved figure at the Nou Camp. Owing to his versatile attacking capabilities, Enrique scored 109 goals in 300 appearances for the club over a span of eight years with the Catalans. He further served the club for three years and was the tactical genius behind Barcelona's treble in 2014-15.

#7: Sergio Busquets

Barcelona v Athletic Club - Copa del Rey: Round of 16 Second Leg
Sergio Busquets acts as an unbreakable shield for Barcelona's back four

On a sad note, it really pains to see that Sergio Busquets is not regarded as highly by the football world as by the Barca supporters. Another gift to the club by the La Masia, Sergio Busquets has been one of the best defensive midfielders in his generations.

The Spaniard has established himself as an able midfield general capable of dictating games from the center. His ability to read the game helps him break the opposition and protect his backline. Busquets might appear as an invisible player to the crowd, but his importance cannot be understated.

In a three-man midfield where Xavi and Iniesta would control the tempo of the game, Busquets was the man to sit behind and act as the midfield armour for his club.

Currently in his tenth season with La Blaugrana, Sergio Busquets has made 443 appearances and scored 13 goals. As time passes by, the midfielder will clearly attain the status as a legend at the club in the coming years.

#6: Johan Neeskens

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Neeskens earned the pseudonym 'Johan Segon'

Nicknamed as Johan Segon(Johan The Second), Dutch midfield enforcer started as a midfielder but later converted to a central midfield role to support Johan Cruyff.

Having played with Cruyff at Ajax, the midfield enforcer joined him at Barcelona in an unsuccessful era at the club. Although he didn't lay his hands on the amount of silverware he deserved, the Dutchman had all the attributes of being the 'second greatest player in the world.'

Neeskens earned recognition as a tough and tireless runner on the pitch. Also, he was a brave midfielder with a keen eye for a pass. Although he remained under the shadow of his legendary counterpart, his ability didn't go unnoticed on the field. Such was the aura of the tough-tackling Dutchman that the crowd would chant 'Neeskens, Neeskens' even after Cruyff had left the club.

In his five seasons at the club, Neeskens made 230 appearances and netted 56 times for the club. It was really unlucky for a player of his calibre to win just two trophies during his stint with the Catalans.

#5: Michael Laudrup

Michael Laudrup
Michael Laudrup was a crucial member of the Dream Team under Johan Cruyff

The 'Great Dane' as he should be known, Michael Laudrup was the creative engine behind the famous Dream Team and one of the three foreigners along with Hristo Stoichkov and Rivaldo who would play almost every game for La Blaugrana.

Michael Laudrup arrived from Juventus and quickly settled himself in Cruyff's 'Total Football' philosophy that helped him to enhance his abilities as a player. A well-balanced player known for his superb vision and pinpoint passing, the midfield enforcer was gifted with feints that helped him beat defenders and create spaces for rotating the ball.

Laudrup was one of those rare midfielders who could be equally effective after being played in both defensive and offensive midfield positions. The Denmark international was well-known for his croqueta.

Although a split with Cruyff saw him make a move to arch-rivals Real Madrid, he might have lost a lot of respect for his unexpected behaviour. In his five seasons with the club, Laudrup netted 55 times in 216 appearances. The fact that the Dane was one of the most elegant and graceful midfielders in the game is totally unquestionable.

#4: Pep Guardiola

Barcelona v Alaves
Guardiola was a pivotal player in Johan Cruyff's Dream Team

The bald-headed genius might be a well-versed tactician, but he was an equally talented midfielder who became the pivot of Barcelona's 'Dream Team' built by Johan Cruyff. The legendary Dutchman found Guardiola in his first week at the club.

It was the absence of Guillermo Amor that helped the young Spaniard to cement a place in the starting XI at the tender age of 20. As success followed, the midfielder became a crucial part in the centre of the park and also held the captain's armband under Dutch maestro Louis Van Gaal.

A calm and composed player on the ball, it wouldn't be wrong to call Guardiola as a previous version of Xavi Hernandez. A technically gifted player in the middle, he was apt at making defence-splitting passes and garnering assists on a daily basis.

In his eleven seasons as a first team player with Barcelona, the Spaniard had 366 appearances under his belt with 12 goals to his credit.

After being a loyal servant to the club, Pep Guardiola became the harbinger of a golden age at the Nou Camp after replacing Frank Rijkaard. To this day, the master tactician is remembered as one of the most beloved players at the Nou Camp.

#3: Andres Iniesta

FC Barcelona v Sampdoria: Joan Gamper Trophy
Andres Iniesta is rapidly approaching his dream to be a one-club legend at the Nou Camp

Spanish midfielder Andres Iniesta will always be remembered as a national hero for scoring the winner against the Netherlands in the 2010 World Cup final. However, there's so much more that has helped him reach the pedestal as one of the most elegant midfielders to have ever played football.

With La Masia churning out another world-class product, Iniesta is a beautiful music to the eyes, pulling strings in the centre of the park with Xavi Hernandez. Like his legendary partner, Iniesta has gained mastery over creating chances in impossible conditions and producing magical moments week in week out for the club.

His elegance pin-point accuracy in passing and excellent positional sense helped Lionel Messi become a world-class goal poacher. Over the years, the Spanish playmaker has become apt at producing eye-catching masterstrokes that have helped him win countless accolades at the Nou Camp.

Currently holding the armband at the club, Andres Iniesta is mid-way in his 16th season with the Blaugrana and is rapidly approaching towards his aim to be a one-club legend for his beloved club. As of now, the Spaniard has made 640 appearances and netted 55 times for Barcelona.

#2: Xavi Hernandez

FC Barcelona v Sevilla FC - La Liga
Xavi is regarded as the greatest midfielder of his generation

If through passes were to be patented, Xavi Hernandez would have been the first in line for that honour. A La Masia graduate and Andres Iniesta's partner-in-crime in the midfield, Xavi was the centrepiece of a midfield that gleamed brightly like a jewel in a crown.

The Spanish genius made his name as one of the greatest pass masters to grace the game during his years as a Barcelona player. Xavi mastered the elegance and beauty of making defence-splitting passes, which proved to be a crucial reason behind Leo Messi's superfluity in front of the goal.

Forming a devastating trio with Iniesta and Messi, Xavi heralded an era of unparalleled dominance under the newly appointed boss Pep Guardiola. The Spaniard was a revelation in the tiki-taka philosophy that saw La Blaugrana achieve unprecedented success.

With a keen eye for a pass and an ability to find spaces in the tightest situations and above all, his propensity to dictate games from the centre of the park earned him the sobriquet The Puppet Master.

In an illustrious 17-year career in the blue and burgundy shirt, Xavi made 767 appearances for Barcelona, becoming the player with most appearances for the club. He scored 85 goals for his beloved club before departing in 2015.

Xavi was truly an embodiment of Barcelona's 'Total Football' philosophy as he became a legend of a kind.

#1: Ronaldinho

Barcelona v Stuttgart - UEFA Champions League
Ronaldinho was the torch-bearer in dark times for the Blaugrana

Whatever happens, happens for the good. And Barcelona's failure to bring superstar David Beckham to the Nou Camp proved to be a blessing in disguise.

Their saviour. Their Messiah. Their king. You may confer any other title on the Brazilian but that would still fail to undermine the eminence of Ronaldinho at Barcelona. In torrid times when rivals Real Madrid were gaining momentum as the champions in Spain, the pony-tailed midfielder was the shining beacon of light who challenged the supremacy of the Los Blancos.

Some are people are artists. Some themselves are art. That holds true for the giant trickster who had the world at his feet with all but a cute smile. Ronaldinho made the beautiful game look easy in so many ways. His freestyle on the pitch, blind passes, mind-blowing goals and an overabundance of tricks was nothing short of a delicacy.

It didn't take time for Dinho to make the world his oyster when he arrived at Barca. Amongst a young squad that consisted the likes of Xavi and Andres Iniesta, he held the torch as Barcelona kickstarted their resurrection under his light. The two-time Fifa World Player of the Year winner produced jaw-dropping performances, notably in a 6-3 route of Real's Galacticos.

Amongst the thousands of footballers to have played the game, Ronaldinho is one of those handful players who was never hated. Receiving a standing ovation at the Bernabeu speaks tons about the respect he holds in the football world.

In his five seasons at the club, the Brazilian made 207 appearances and scored 94 times.

Don't judge a book by its cover. That's what Florentino Perez might have learnt after rejecting Dinho for his 'looks'. Poor decision, also considering the fact that it is his apprentice - Messi who rules the football world today!

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Edited by Aakanksh Sanketh