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Barcelona have been and continue to be home to some of the greatest players to have graced the beautiful game. The club's famed youth academy 'La Masia' has consistently produced world-class footballers. Barcelona have been one of the most successful clubs of all time and they have been dominant in the 21st century as well.
The Catalans have been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic in a financial sense and are still reeling from the effects of it. But that hasn't stopped them from achieving success on the pitch. Though they weren't at the top of their game in the 2020-21 season, they still won the Copa Del Rey this past term.
Barcelona have been one of the most successful European clubs in the last decade
Barcelona won the UEFA Champions League twice in the last decade. They have won six La Liga titles since the start of the 2010-11 season as well. They have had some incredible talent on their payroll and today, we will take a look at the very best among them.
Without further ado, let's take a look at five of the best Barcelona players from the last decade.
#5 Sergio Busquets
Sergio Busquets has been Barcelona's midfield metronome for more than a decade now. The Spaniard has been exemplary as a holding midfielder and possesses world-class technical ability.
Busquets is arguably one of the greatest holding midfielders of all time but he doesn't often get the kind of credit he deserves. He was just as important to the Spanish national side and Barcelona as Andres Iniesta or Xavi were. Busquets was also instrumental in the Catalans' success in the past decade.
One of the most well-rounded midfielders of his generation, Busquets has been adept at recovering possession and kickstarting attacks for his side. At the age of 33, he may have lost a yard of pace but he is still going strong.
He has been a mainstay in the Barcelona side that won six La Liga titles and two Champions League titles since the 2010-11 season.
#4 Luis Suarez
Luis Suarez is arguably the best striker Barcelona have had since the turn of the millennium. The tenacious Uruguayan marksman struck up a wonderful partnership with both Lionel Messi and Neymar Jr. At their best, the trio were simply unstoppable, scoring goals for fun.
Barcelona signed Suarez from Liverpool in the summer of 2014 for a sum reported to be in the ballpark of €80 million. From then until he left for Atletico Madrid in rather unceremonious fashion, Suarez made 283 appearances for Barcelona across all competitions.
He scored a whopping 195 goals and provided 113 assists during his time with Barcelona. Suarez won the European Golden Shoe in his second season with the Catalans. El Pistolero won four La Liga titles, one Champions League title, four Copa Del Reys and two Supercopa de Espanas over the course of his six year stay at Barcelona.
#3 Xavi
One half of the best midfield duo of the 21st century, Xavi Hernandez is one of the greatest technicians the game has ever seen. He was only around for five years in the last decade and his powers had started to fade considerably in his final season.
But a prime Xavi could make football look like an easy sport. He could upend entire defences with the drop of a shoulder and play inch-perfect passes to his teammates all day long.
Xavi won the Champions League twice in the last decade and retired from Barcelona after winning the treble. The Spaniard was the master architect for Barcelona and it was impossible to shake him off the ball.
He has been so influential that the Catalans have been looking for a replacement ever since he left but haven't been able to find one.
In 240 appearances since the start of the 2010-11 season, Xavi has scored 32 goals and provided 58 assists for Barcelona across all competitions.
#2 Andres Iniesta
The diminutive Spanish footballer might not look all that threatening but few players have been as good with the ball at their feet as Andres Iniesta. He was picked as the best midfielder in La Liga in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014.
Iniesta had a great understanding with his midfield partner Xavi and attacker Lionel Messi. He is one of the greatest dribblers in the history of the game and had a skillset replete with deft touches, turns, flicks and sublime strikes.
Iniesta left Barcelona in 2018 for Vissel Kobe after 16 years of excellent service. He will go down in history as one of the greatest midfielders of all time and his achievements are slightly greater than that of Xavi's and that's saying something.
Since the start of the 2010-11 season, Iniesta won two Champions League titles, five La Liga titles and five Copa Del Reys. Barcelona's legendary number eight has cemented his status as one of the GOATS by always delivering on the biggest of occasions for both club and country.
He scored Spain's winning goal in the 2010 World Cup final. Iniesta also assisted Rakitic's goal in the 2015 Champions League final. He was also chosen as the man-of-the-match in the game. An exemplary player and individual, Iniesta will be a hero in Catalonia forever.
#1 Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi is arguably the greatest footballer of all time. The man is a genius and does things on the football pitch that are inconceivable to many others. A record six-time Ballon d'Or winner, Messi has been at the heart of everything good that has happened at Barcelona in the last decade.
He recently broke Xavi's record for most appearances (767) for the club. Messi also broke Pele's record for most goals (643) for a single club in the 2020-21 season. The Argentine international's speed, vision, dribbling ability and passing range are all awe-inspiring and he has been an absolute treat to watch.
In 2012, Lionel Messi scored a record 91goals for both club and country. He has clocked astronomical numbers for Barcelona on a regular basis and has dominated the individual prizes awarded in La Liga and Europe.
He has won the European Golden Shoe five times in the last decade. He was also chosen as the UEFA Men's Player of the Year on two occasions in the last ten years. Since the start of the 2010-11 season, Messi has won two Champions League titles, six La Liga titles, six Copa Del Reys and four Copa Del Reys with Barcelona.
