Top 10 football academies in Europe

#1 Barcelona

La Masia - The Heart Of FC Barcelona's Youth System

Everyone would most certainly be aware of this academy. The most famous and reputed football academy in the world, La Masia. Barcelona's very own, the academy has been home to some of the world's best players, including Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and Xavi. The academy became the first to train three Ballon d'Or finalists in a single after all of them were named finalists in the year 2010.

Many of their first-choice players like Messi, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, Sergi Roberto and Gerard Pique graduated from La Masia. Even the likes of Thiago Alcantara, Cesc Fabregas and Pedro graduated at Barcelona. Even former legends of the club like Victor Valdes and Carles Puyol graduated at this place.

The club trains the players in such a way that by the time they are promoted to the first team, they don't encounter any problem in adjusting to the style of play because that is the way they were trained. this method has assisted them and has contributed to their astronomical success.

Some of the top graduates: Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, Xavi, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, Carles Puyol, Victor Valdes and Gerard Pique