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Founded in 1899, the Catalan club is the fourth most valued sports teams in 2017 and second only to Manchester United in football. They are the holders of 24 La Liga titles, 5 UEFA Champions League titles, 29 Copa del Rey titles, 3 FIFA Club World Cup titles and much more.
They revolutionised the game of football and the legacy of the club speaks for itself. Barcelona’s La Masia is one of the most renowned youth academies in the world and it has produced some of the greatest talents in world football. Also, many of the greatest footballers in the world were a part of its famous history.
On that note, let’s take a look at the most influential players in the club’s history.
#5 Xavi Hernandez
Coming through the famous La Masia academy, Xavi made his first-team debut aged 18. With 31 trophies, he is only behind Andres Iniesta in the list of most successful Spanish players in history. He is the most capped Barcelona player with 767 appearances in his 17 long years at the club.
He is a role model and true example for those who have graduated after him. The Ironman of Spanish football is still a reference for any midfielder who wishes to excel in the art of playing in the middle of the park.
Regarded by many as the best central midfielders of all-time, the World Cup winner is a master exponent of the tiki-taka style of football. His influence on Barcelona football is undeniable and his legacy can never be forgotten at the Camp Nou.
#4 Pep Guardiola
He is definitely one of the most successful individuals in the history of the Catalan club. With two great spells, one as a player and one as a coach, Pep is one of the most influential men in their history.
A successful midfielder for Barcelona in '90s, Pep claimed 6 La Liga titles, 2 Copa del Rey, One European cup, and much more during his playing days at Barcelona.
Guardiola had an even more successful spell as a manager. He inculcated the art of tiki-taka style of play and revolutionised the modern day football.
To date, he is the most successful manager in the history of the club. He led Barcelona to 14 silverware during his four years tenure at the club. Even today, he is regarded by many as the best manager in the world. A great personality and one of the most respected men at the Camp Nou.
#3 Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi at no.3? This does not happen often. The Argentine is one of the greatest footballers of all-time and by the time he hangs up his boots, he will be beyond any comparisons.
With 364 goals, Messi is La Liga's all-time top goalscorer. He has won 29 trophies with the Catalan giants, including four UEFA Champions League titles, eight La Liga titles, and five Copa del Rey. Messi has won every possible honour in world football and his achievements go without saying. He was a part of Barcelona's golden era under Pep Guardiola and dominated Europian football for almost a decade.
Messi has always been a phenomenon. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner is truly a remarkable sportsman and a prolific goalscorer. A prodigious talent as a teenager, Messi's rise to stardom is an inspirational story for any aspiring footballer. He is a role-model for today's youth across the globe, and his influence on the game will last for generations to come, as kids growing up imitating their hero.
#2 László Kubala
Widely considered by many as the greatest footballer of his generation, Kubala was a part of successful Barcelona team of the 1950s. The Hungarian scored 194 goals in his 256 appearances for the Catalan club.
He was a five-time Spanish champion and represented Spain on 16 occasions. He is still the only footballer to have represented three different countries in Internationals.
He was the main reason why Barcelona decided to build the new stadium, Camp Nou. Barcelona fans voted him as their greatest player of the 20th century. His Bronze statue outside of Camp Nou reminds everyone of the legacy he has built at Spain.
He went on to coach his old team twice and Spain national team for 11 long years. He was the one to break Real’s dominance in Spain, knocking them out of the 1961 European Cup and set a foundation for Barcelona to build on.
#1 Johan Cruyff
The Dutchman joined the club in 1973 in a world-record transfer fee of 6 million guilders (Netherlands currency) and went on to change the history of the Catalan giants.
Though he played only for 5 seasons, his greatest contributions came as a manager. Johan Cruyff revolutionised Barcelona's footballing philosophy. His greatest work at Camp Nou was the creation of La Masia. It was Barcelona's famous youth system that introduced Xavi Hernandez, Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, and Sergio Busquets to the world.
He transformed the club and brought in a winning mentality. He laid systematic foundations for a new style of football, that went on to become an identity for the Catalan club.
He formed the dream team, which included Pep Guardiola, Txiki Begiristain, Ronald Koeman, Michael Laudrup, and Romario. In his 8 years at the club, Cruyff led Barcelona to 4 La Liga titles and one Champions League title.
