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Undoubtedly one of the biggest clubs in the world, Barcelona have established themselves as one of the most prestigious clubs in the top echelons of club football. Founded in 1899, the club's 118-year-old history is rich with success and tales of excellence and is adorned by the names of some sensational footballers who have plied their trade at the Catalan club.
Domestically, In 118 years, the club has won 25 La Liga titles, 30 Copa del Rey titles, 12 Supercopa de Espana titles. Since the turn of the century, the Blaugrana have also transitioned into a European superpower, winning 5 UEFA Champions League titles, as well as 5 UEFA Super Cups.
Naturally, the club has been represented by some of the finest footballers the game has ever seen - Patrick Kluivert, Johan Cruyff Ronaldo, Diego Maradona, Ronaldinho, Carles Puyol and Xavi in the past, while players like Andres Iniesta, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez still find themselves donning the famous red and blue.
Barcelona has also churned out a number of other key figures in the football world like Pep Guardiola, Ronald Koeman and Txiki Begiristain. Often extracting talented players from their famed academy, La Masia, Barcelona have rarely been short of top quality talent over the years.
While some players have stayed at the club for years, some have come, conquered and left on their own time. To play for Barcelona is a dream most footballers cherish. However, only a fortuitous bunch go on to realize their dream. On that note, here is a look at 5 of the longest-serving players on Barcelona's current roster:
#5 Jordi Alba
Joined the club: 1st July 2012
Contracted until: 30th June 2020
Seasons spent at Barcelona: 6
Starting his career as a left winger, Jordi Alba was a member of Barcelona's youth side until he was released in 2005 before he moved to Cornella and then Valencia. Notably, he spent 3 seasons at Valencia, where he transitioned from a left-winger to a left-back.
Subsequently, Barcelona decided to bring him back to Camp Nou as they paid Valencia a reported fee of €14 million and signed the Spaniard on a five-year contract in 2012. Since then, Jordi Alba has made 239 appearances for the Blaugrana in all competitions and has even scored 12 times.
More importantly, the 29-year-old has won 13 major titles with the Catalonian club, including 4 La Liga titles, 4 Copa del Rey titles and 1 UEFA Champions League trophy. Presently recognised as one of the best left-backs in the world, Alba is contracted until 2020 but will be expected to be a part of the Barcelona outfit for longer.
#4 Sergio Busquets
Joined the club: 1st September 2008
Contracted until: 30th June 2021
Seasons spent at Barcelona: 10
Sergio Busquets joined Barcelona's youth side in 2005 before being promoted to the Barcelona B side by Pep Guardiola in 2007. In the same season, Busquets was also promoted to the first team, making his La Liga debut in 2008.
Under Guardiola's guidance, Busquets rose to prominence and immediately established himself as a prominent member of the Barcelona first-team. A solid defensive midfielder, the Spaniard has made 40+ appearances in all 10 seasons at the club.
Further, Busquets has lifted an astonishing total of 27 major titles with Barcelona including 7 La Liga titles and 3 UEFA Champions League trophies. Just 29-years-old, Busquets currently has a contract until 2021 and will look to win a few more trophies before his time at the club comes to an end.
#3 Gerard Pique
Joined the club: 1st July 2008
Contracted until: 30th June 2022
Seasons spent at Barcelona: 10
Gerard Pique initially joined Barcelona's youth side at the tender age of 10 and went on to spend 7 years with the Catalans as a defensive midfielder. In 2004, however, before he signed a professional contract with the Blaugrana, Manchester United swooped in and lured the Spaniard to the Premier League for free.
Pique spent 4 seasons at Manchester United, winning the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League before heading back to Barcelona in 2008 for a paltry fee of €5 million.
Since then there has been no turning back for the defender, who has gone on to become one of the best centre-backs in the world. Currently in his 10th season at boyhood club, Barcelona, Pique has won a staggering total of 26 major titles with Barcelona, including 7 La Liga titles and 3 UEFA Champions League titles.
At 31 years of age, Pique still has a lot to offer and it won't be surprising if he goes on to win a few more trophies before he calls time on his career.
#2 Lionel Messi
Joined the club: 1st July 2005
Contracted until: 30th June 2021
Seasons spent at Barcelona: 14
Ah, this man. Words do not begin to accurately describe how significant Lionel Messi has been to Barcelona and to the world of football, in general. Also a La Masia product, Leo Messi was a key part of Barcelona's greatest ever youth team - the "Baby Dream Team", which also included the likes of Gerard Pique and Cesc Fabregas.
The diminutive Argentine soon shot to the top, astonishingly representing 5 different Barcelona teams (Juveniles B, Juveniles A, Barcelona C, Barcelona B, and the first-team) in a single season as he rose through the ranks.
He soon befriended the sensational superstar who went by the name Ronaldinho and under the Brazilian's tutelage, began to develop into, perhaps, the greatest player the game has ever seen.
Messi has now spent 14 seasons at Barcelona, having scored a total of 551 goals in 635 appearances across all competitions, eclipsing a number of records along the way for both club and otherwise. Simply absurd!
To add to it, Messi has won an unbelievable total of 32 major titles including 9 La Liga titles and 4 UEFA Champions League titles. Further, Messi has also won a record (one that he shares with his arch-rival, Cristiano Ronaldo) 5 Ballons d'Or - the trophy awarded to the best individual player every season - during his time at Barcelona.
Also read: 5 reasons why Lionel Messi is bigger than the Ballon d'Or
Easily the best thing to have happened to the club, Lionel Messi is widely regarded as one of the greatest players to have ever graced a football pitch, as well as a beacon of loyalty for continuously refusing to leave the club he loves.
#1 Andres Iniesta
Joined the club: 1st July 2002
Contracted until: ---
Seasons spent at Barcelona: 16
Perhaps the club's greatest servant, Andres Iniesta has been a Barcelona boy through and through for the entirety of his career. Having joined the club's academy, La Masia, at the young age of 12 in 1996, Iniesta has slowly but steadily become one of the club's greatest heroes.
Iniesta broke into the Barcelona first team only in 2002, but the rest, as they say, is history. Shortly after Iniesta arrived at the club, the then captain, Pep Guardiola had famously exclaimed to teammate Xavi, "This lad [Iniesta] is going to retire us all."
Such was the brilliance that shone through Iniesta even as a child, he was always touted to be a great of the game. Iniesta has spent a gargantuan total of 16 seasons at the club, making 669 appearances across all competitions, winning 32 major titles with Barcelona.
Despite signing a lifetime contract with Barcelona, the Spanish maestro recently announced that he will depart the club at the end of the ongoing season, and due to his love and loyalty to the Blaugrana, will continue to play football outside of Europe so as to never have to face his boyhood club.
Also read: 5 longest-serving players on Manchester United's current roster
Absolute legend of the club, and the game.
