5 players who have won La Liga with both Real Madrid and Barcelona

Bhargav
Michael Laudrup is one of the few players who have won La Liga with both Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Michael Laudrup is one of the few players who have won La Liga with both Real Madrid and Barcelona.

#3 Luis Enrique (Barcelona - 2, Real Madrid - 1)

Luis Enrique
Luis Enrique

Luis Enrique was one of the few players to have enjoyed almost equal success at both Real Madrid and Barcelona. Enrique was renowned for his versatility that allowed him to be deployed in a bevvy of positions in the midfield and attacking third.

He scored 15 La Liga goals in five seasons at Real Madrid in the early 90s, contributing four goals in the Merengues' victorious 1994-95 campaign. However, after scoring in Real Madrid's 5-0 win over Barcelona in January 1995, Enrique did not renew his contract at the club and instead joined the Blaugrana in the summer.

Despite arriving from their arch-rivals, the player soon endeared himself to the Barcelona faithful as his goal count saw a metronomic improvement. His 46 La Liga goals in his first three seasons at the club helped Barcelona win consecutive league titles and finish second in 1996-97.

Enrique returned to Barcelona in a managerial capacity in 2014 after stints at AS Roma and Celta Vigo, and promptly led the club its second continental treble. In his next season, the former player delivered another league and cup double before leaving the club at the end of the 2016-17 season after winning a third Copa del Rey title on the trot.


#4 Michael Laudrup (Barcelona - 4, Real Madrid - 1)

Michael Laudrup
Michael Laudrup

After making his debut as a precocious teenager, Michael Laudrup had successful stints at Lazio and Juventus before becoming a key component of Johan Cryuff's Dream Team at Barcelona in the early 90s.

Renowned for his eye for the final ball and goal-scoring prowess, the Danish midfielder combined with Jose Bakero and Hristo Stoichkov to form one of the most-feared attacking triumvirates in world football as Barcelona won four consecutive league titles from 1991 to 1994.

Pep Guardiola and Txiki Begiristain were some of Laudrup's other illustrious teammates in that team. Barcelona also lifted their first Champions League title in 1991-92 when the competition was known as the European Champions Club's Cup.

However, because of the three-foreigner rule in La Liga at that time and Barcelona's mounting injury issues, Laudrup decided to leave Camp Nou. He joined Barcelona's arch-rivals Real Madrid in 1994 and quickly endeared himself to the club's faithful with his silken skills, winning a fifth-consecutive league title during his two-season stay at the club.

Interestingly, Laudrup featured in 5-0 El Clasico wins at both Barcelona and Real Madrid. He did so in his last season with the Blaugrana and his first with the Merengues.

Talking about his decision to leave Barcelona, Laudrup said in a later interview:

"There was a limit of four foreigners and you could only play three. The first few months of the 1993-94 season I was the one who played most but I was losing form in the decisive stretch and missed the final in Athens. I considered whether that trend would continue into the next season and came to the conclusion that I would have problems and time proved me right. Barcelona had problems with injuries in 1994-95, and they could only finish third."

The Dane later won a league title in a fourth different country when he won the league and cup double with Ajax, before retiring as a player after the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France where Denmark reached the quarter-finals.


#5 Luis Figo (Barcelona - 2, Real Madrid - 2)

Luis Figo
Luis Figo

Luis Figo, arguably one of the greatest players of his generation, played over 200 games for both Barcelona and Real Madrid and won two La Liga titles at each club.

Renowned for his creativity, goal-creating prowess and ability from set-pieces, Figo scored 45 goals and 51 assists during his five-season stint with Barcelona, winning consecutive La Liga titles in 1997-98 and 1998-99.

However, a perceived lack of recognition for his efforts led Figo to leave Camp Nou and join Real Madrid. The move angered the Blaugrana faithful to no end, as Figo was greeted with missiles and a pig's head during his first game away at Barcelona.

Figo, who joined Real Madrid in the summer of 2000 on a then world-record transfer of €62 million, enjoyed an equally successful stint at his new club. He won the 2000 Ballon d'Or, scored 56 goals and provided 93 assists. Real Madrid won the 2000-01 and 2002-03 La Liga titles, apart from the 2001-02 Champions League.

Quick Links