The best Barcelona players ever are some of the greats of the game. Barcelona are more than a club, according to the motto – and this half-century of legends have written their names into Camp Nou folklore.
“Barcelona had history and culture, the coast, the weather, all wrapped around a wonderful football club that was the spiritual headquarters of a nation,” Sir Bobby Robson said of the side he managed in the 1996/97 season.
Robson was right. Catalonia's unique blend of art and passion has come to be represented at Camp Nou, and their legacy is more than just hyperbole: this is not just a football team but an institution, so picking their 50 greatest stars ever is some task…
How the best Barcelona players ever were chosen by our football experts at FourFourTwo
FourFourTwo's footballing experts compiled their original list of the greatest players to have ever played for Barcelona based on several factors.
Just as with our list of the best Real Madrid players of all time, we considered sheer brilliance and technical ability, taking into account just how good they were at their peak – no matter how long that peak was. But longevity and legacy played a huge factor: and for a club as big as Barça is, we had to consider their influence and importance to the club itself.
We wanted to balance this list between the old and new, and give players a fair crack at getting onto this list regardless of whether they were blessed to be a member of a Golden Generation or not – and we consulted Barcelona fans and experts for their input. Some of those who ended up making the list are among the greatest players of all time.
Barcelona is a club with an identity stronger than most – and we wanted every player on this half-century count to reflect it in some way. This is what we ended up with. Do you agree? Let us know @FourFourTwo.
50. Txiki Begiristain
Now more commonly known for his work at Manchester City, it has been forgotten just how good Txiki Begiristain was during his playing days. Arriving from Real Sociedad in 1988, the forward scored on his debut against Espanyol - the first of 63 goals for the Catalan club. In his 233 appearances at the club, Begiristain lifted four successive La Liga titles and a European Cup in one of many golden eras for the Spanish giants.
49. Abelardo
He signed for 275 million pesetas – mere thousands, in new money – and Abelardo became an unlikely backbone in two league titles and two European trophies. His positional supremacy was unbelievable, seeing out the Cruyff years at the back before he was hampered with injuries. he left in 2002 for Alaves.
48. Bernd Schuster
Bernd Shuster was a key figure of the Barcelona sides of the 1980s, featuring 170 times for the club across his eight-year stay in Catalonia. The West German midfielder had a keen eye for goal, netting 63 times, and averaging roughly a goal every three games. Schuster helped the club to the 1985 La Liga title as well as four Copa Del Rey titles and a European Cup final before departing to Real Madrid in 1988, tainting his memory in the eyes of many fans.
47. Lilian Thuram
One of the most intelligent and celebrated defenders of a lifetime, Lilian Thuram didn't even play 60 games for Barcelona. His displays were imperious at the back for the club, however, injecting a touch of class that he brought over from Serie A.
46. Deco
The Portuguese technician arrived with plenty of excitement and expectation having guided Porto to the 2004 Champions League title. The midfielder was named the club’s player of the season during their La Liga and Champions League double-winning campaign in 2005/06, as well as being crowned UEFA’s midfielder of the year. Despite spending just four years at the club, Deco cemented his place in the club’s hall of fame thanks to one of the best individual campaigns the club has ever seen and now works for the club as Sporting Director.
45. Gary Lineker
England hero Gary Lineker arrived at Barcelona in 1986 having just lifted the World Cup Golden Boot in Mexico. He enjoyed a fantastic debut season in Spain, netting 21 goals in 42 appearances as he delivered on the lofty promise of his exploits in England. Lineker made over 100 appearances in his three years at the club, although found himself shifted further away from his natural centre-forward position before eventually departing for Tottenham Hotspur in 1989.
44. Sergi Roberto
A loyal servant throughout his career, Sergi Roberto’s time at Barcelona will undoubtedly be remembered for one historic moment. 4-0 down after the first leg, Barcelona had pulled the Champions League round of 16 tie against PSG back to 5-5 on aggregate heading deep into injury time before Roberto’s stretching effort secured the most dramatic comeback in European history. An understated figure in a team of superstars, Roberto has racked up 245 appearances for the club and will undoubtedly go down as a hero.
43. Javier Mascherano
Javier Mascherano arrived from Liverpool with a reputation as a battling midfielder equipped with fantastic technical ability as the club looked to phase out an aging core of their squad under Pep Guardiola. By the time he departed in 2018, Mascherano had firmly cemented his place as a club hero, gradually moving backwards before establishing himself as one of the greatest centre-backs in the world while playing a key role in five La Liga titles and two Champions League successes.
42. Sergi Barjuan
The Spanish-born left-back came through the ranks at Barcelona during his youth career, playing for both the C and B teams before eventually making his senior debut in 1993 and locking down a starting spot for the best part of a decade. Barjuan made 267 appearances across his nine years at the club, lifting three league titles and the Copa Del Rey twice before seeing out the remainder of his career at Atletico Madrid.
41. Eric Abidal
Even Maxwell arriving from Inter Milan couldn't force Eric Abidal out of the Barca team under Guardiola. The Frenchman was a player you could set your watch by and was adored by fans and teammates alike: perhaps best surmised when Carles Puyol let him lift the Champions League trophy at Wembley in 2011, following a liver tumour and transplant. A fitting gesture for a fantastic servant.
40. Rafael Marquez
One of the longest-serving international footballers of all time, Barcelona got the best of Rafael Marquez, who started out as a centre-back before being moved into midfield and back again. Marquez was the last Frank Rijkaard signing to stay at the club into the Guardiola years, winning four LaLiga titles and two Champions League trophies in his time in Catalonia.
39. Patrick Kluivert
Champions League winner with a goal in the final at age 18, the sky was the limit for Patrick Kluivert when he arrived from AC Milan in 1998. The Dutchman was an immediate hit, forming a strong relationship with Rivaldo to fire the club to the 1999 league title. Perhaps unfortunate to play for the club in a rare dry spell trophy-wise, Kluivert consistently showed his quality at Camp Nou, netting 124 goals in 249 appearances before departing for Newcastle in 2004.
38. Pedro
Immensely talented and undoubtedly underrated, Pedro made up a crucial part of one of the greatest eras in Barcelona’s history. Comfortable across the frontline, Pedro paired immense technical ability with an insatiable work ethic to perfectly complement his superstar teammates.
The Spaniard lifted five La Liga titles and three Champions Leagues in 204 appearances before departing for Chelsea in 2015, never truly receiving the adoration his performances and impact deserved.
37. Paulino Alcantara
Born in the Philippines, Paulino Alcantara is the youngest player to either play or score for the Catalan outfit – even younger than Lamine Yamal. With 369 goals in 357 matches – a record that stood for almost a century, it's fair to call him the Messi of his day: every youngster through La Masia has had to match up to his excellence.
36. Hristo Stoichkov
He may have spent two months on the sideline during his first season for stamping on a ref's foot, but Hristo Stoichkov more than made up for lost time. The Bulgarian became the jewel of the Dream Team, helping Barca to four LaLiga titles and being the most fearsome forward in the first European Cup triumph. In 1994, he won the Ballon d'Or and World Cup Golden Boot.
35. Neymar
Neymar was already a global superstar before arriving in 2013, having sent shockwaves around the world with his performances for Santos. Despite a difficult adjustment period, it quickly became apparent that the hype was real as Neymar quickly became one of the most exciting players on earth.
One-third of the famous MSN trio, Neymar grew to become the best player in the world behind Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, cementing his legacy with a goal in the 2015 Champions League final, as well as his involvement in the famous ‘La Remontada’ game against PSG in 2017.
34. David Villa
David Villa was already one of the most feared strikers on earth by the time he swapped Valencia for Barcelona in 2010. He immediately delivered on the promise shown earlier in his career as a classy finisher with blistering pace capable of tearing apart the best defences on earth.
He rounded off a fantastic debut campaign with a goal in the 2011 Champions League final victory over Manchester United, netting 33 goals across his three years at the club before departing for Atletico Madrid.
33. Victor Valdes
Having risen through the youth ranks, Victor Valdes nailed down the number one spot at Barcelona and kept a firm hold on it until his exit 12 years later. The Spaniard was a stalwart between the sticks and survived the complete overhaul brought about by Pep Guardiola’s appointment in 2007.
Credited as one of the early ‘ball-playing goalkeepers’ Valdes helped revolutionise how goalkeepers were utilised while collecting one of the most impressive trophy hauls in history before departing for Manchester United in the final stages of his remarkable career.
32. Sandor Kocsis
Sandor Kocsis may have achieved more in his native Hungary with Honved but his arrival at Barcelona in 1958 was the introduction of a superstar. He scored on his debut, won back-to-back LaLiga titles during Real Madrid's Hollywood era and was desperately unlucky not to win the European Cup in 1961. After retiring, Kocsis opened a restaurant in the city.
31. Thierry Henry
Having conquered England, Thierry Henry arrived at Barcelona in 2007 looking to bolster a star-studded squad aiming to dominate Europe over the coming seasons. Deployed from the left wing, Henry struggled to replicate the goalscoring prowess at Arsenal in the early stages of his career. Having established a strong relationship with Lionel Messi and Samuel Eto’o, Henry played a key role in the club’s historic 2009 sextuple-winning season.
30. Jose Mari Bakero
Jose Bakero acted as a pillar of the famous Barcelona ‘Dream Team’ which dazzled on the European stage across the 1980s and 90s alongside a talented squad of Basque players. The midfielder had a keen eye for goal, netting 72 times in 260 appearances, helping the club to four league titles and the 1992 European Cup.
Bakero was praised for his playmaking abilities during the peak of his career, as well as his surprising aerial prowess despite his short physical stature.
29. Pep Guardiola
Champions League winner as both a player and a manager, there are few with a better reputation among the Barcelona faithful than Pep Guardiola. A technically blessed holding midfielder, Guardiola worked his way through the ranks at La Masia before becoming a mainstay in the senior side for over a decade.
Guardiola’s playing days are largely credited for perfecting the role which would see fellow compatriots Sergio Busquets and Rodri thrive in later years, while his impact on the club will stretch for generations to come.
28. Gheorghe Hagi
Gheorghe Hagi could score goals that even Gheorghe Hagi couldn't score. The Romanian is the greatest player ever from his nation and dazzled Catalans with silky touch and incredible power in his shots. In just two seasons at the Camp Nou, he lit up the turf with his genius.
27. Carles Rexach
Carles Rexach spent 44 years at Barcelona. Breaking through in the mid-1960s, he was there for the Cruyff years, scoring important goals and finishing off his Dutch teammate's idyllic balls. A one-club man, he bled the Blaugrana colours and is one of the most important figures in the institution's history, on and off the field.
26. Evaristo de Macedo
Evaristo de Macedo scored five goals in a 9-0 win over Colombia, which earned him his move to Barcelona. In an iconic front three with Laszlo Kubala and Luis Suarez, he became the first hat-trick scorer at the Camp Nou and scored the winning goal to stop Real Madrid winning their sixth European Cup. Rivaldo is the only Brazilian to have scored more goals – and even so, Evaristo's goals may well be a little more celebrated.
25. Johan Neeskens
Late Dutch master Johan Neeskens is one of his country's favourite sons. He may have only won two cups in his five years in Spain – but he's a firm favourite with Barca fans, too. Johan Cruyff's right-hand man, Neeskens – who gave one of his last-ever interviews to FourFourTwo – was always available wherever he needed to be with his positional sense and versatility hugely valuable to Barca. It's just a shame he wasn't there for the glory years.
24. Josep Escola
Josep Escola spent 11 years in Barcelona across two different stints in the 1930s and 40s, having been forced into exile for a few years during the Spanish Civil War.
A free-scoring forward, Escola netted 93 goals in 166 games for the club, helping them to two league titles and a Copa Del Rey, cementing his legacy as one of the club’s earliest heroes.
23. Jordi Alba
It was plainly obvious at Euro 2012: Barcelona had made a mistake. Somehow, Jordi Alba slipped the La Masia net to end up at Valencia – but the left-back returned to his home city to play over 400 times for the club who let him go as a youngster. One of the most consistent, energetic and dangerous left-backs of all time, Alba was a key component to Barca's success over 10 years.
22. Luis Suarez
The other one. The Spanish Luis Suarez was the first Barcelona Ballon d'Or winner, pipping Real Madrid superstar Ferenc Puskas and one of the most exciting stars in one of Barca's most celebrated teams. Two titles, two Copas and two Fairs Cups made it a return of a trophy every season during his stay in Catalonia before a big-money move to Inter Milan.
21. Josep Samitier
He was nicknamed 'The Surrealist' but Jose Samitier's record of 184 goals in 13 years set the tone for an entire football club in black and white. Playing between World Wars, Samitier reinvented the position of a midfield general and is still the fifth-highest Barca scorer ever. The star of Englishman Jack Greenwell's side, he later coached and scouted for the club.
20. Laszlo Kubala
A master at finding the net: from anywhere at all. Laszlo Kubala was cool, calm and could dribble his way through any defence, turning Barcelona into a world force alongside fellow Hungarian refugees, Sandor Kocsis and Zoltan Czibor. His record of 131 goals in 186 league games would be incredible even these days: he helped set the bar for Barca stars that would follow his path.
19. Rivaldo
Brazilian international Rivaldo is undoubtedly one of the most talented players in Barcelona’s rich history, earning a Ballon D’or while at the club. The forward raced out of the blocks after his 1997 move, finishing his debut campaign as the club’s top scorer.
Despite falling out with manager Louis Van Gaal, Rivaldo remained a consistent source of goals throughout his five-year stay despite touting himself as a playmaking wideman rather than an out-and-out goalscorer. The Brazilian departed in 2003 having picked up 86 goals and two La Liga titles in 157 appearances for the club.
18. Luis Enrique
Cules were cautious of Luis Enrique for daring to defect from Real Madrid. In his eight years in Catalonia, however, he managed to play in virtually every position, captain the side and even celebrated wildly when he netted in the Clasico. Enrique was a player of deftness and intensity in equal part, managing to fulfil a coach's wishes whatever the scenario, winning two titles, two Copas and a Cup Winners Cup.
17. Romario
Hristo Stoichkov made sure Romario wasn't late to training after late-night parties – and Barca fans are very glad he did. The Brazilian is simply one of the greatest footballers of all time – Cruyff called him the best he'd ever coached – and with 30 goals in 33 games during his first season, he showed the world he was one of the best strikers in the world. His highlights included nutmegging Peter Schmeichel, scoring a hat-trick against Real Madrid and being named FIFA World Player of the Year in 1994: if anything, he was robbed of winning more trophies at Barca.
16. Luis Suarez
Arguably the greatest striker of his generation and in the conversation for the greatest striker of all time, Luis Suarez spent the best years of his glittering career at Camp Nou. A six-year stint littered with goals and controversy saw Suarez establish himself as a great of the game, even outsourcing Messi and Ronaldo in La Liga in 2016.
The Uruguayan was simply unstoppable throughout his Camp Nou career, departing for Atletico Madrid with 209 goals in just 304 games for the club.
15. Andoni Zubizarreta
Andoni Zubizarreta only missed four matches in as many La Liga title wins and was between the sticks for the Catalans' maiden European Cup win. It summed Zubi up: he was never one for the spectacular, finding himself in the right position to make saves more often than not. He had an air of composure that few could match and with over 400 appearances in goal for Barcelona, he's still one of the best signings they ever made.
14. Gerard Pique
At his peak, he was one of the most talented defenders of all time. The rock at the heart of everything brilliant that Barcelona have achieved, Gerard Pique cemented his place in Barca hearts with a pay cut during the hard time, too. Strong, vocal, a brilliant passer and a taker of a great selfie, there are few centre-backs quite like him.
13. Samuel Eto'o
Samuel Eto'o was the complete striker. So few could be so deft on the ball, so intense off of it. And he was utterly perfect for Pep Guardiola: he helped inform the direction that the Catalan would go in with his attack.
Widely considered one of the greatest African footballers ever, Eto'o had put Barca on his back long before Pep arrived, guiding them to the 2006 Champions League final and being the consistent spark of brilliance through the darker periods. He was an integral member of the front three he formed with Messi and Henry, too, showing the selflessness and intelligence to give the other two space when needed.
12. Cesar Rodriguez
Cesar Rodriguez was perhaps Barcelona's very first superstar. He managed reach double-figures in goals in 11 seasons and whether he was helping keep the team in the league or leading them to titles, he was vital.
A key member of the side that won five trophies in 1951/52, he managed to help drag Barca from the bottom to the top too, like no other player has done since: and reports say he dazzled, with an ability to score corners and a prolific touch that no one had ever seen in Catalonia. 232 goals in 351 appearances makes him one of the greatest to ever do it in Blaugrana colours.
11. Michael Laudrup
Michael Laudrup joined Barcelona because he adored Johan Cruyff when he growing up. The Dane would become one of the most exciting footballers on Earth under his hero's tutelage – before falling out with him and completing a controversial move to Real Madrid.
But that shouldn't take away from the fact that Laudrup was one of the most elegant and effortless footballers of a generation in any position that he played. He was one of the most technically gifted of the Dream Team, with vision, speed and passing that was on a different plain to so many of his contemporaries. Without him, Cruyff's side would maybe still have won four La Ligas, the European Cup and plaudits from all corners – but it would've felt a little emptier: like it was missing one of its most influential artist's strokes from its canvas.
10. Ronald Koeman
He's maybe underrated, simply for his poor stint as manager but it's hard to imagine Barcelona in its modern form without Ronald Koeman.
And not just because the Dutchman scored their first-ever European Cup win. A sweeper with unbelievable vision and incredible shooting from distance, Koeman is the top-scoring defender in world football with 90 goals in all competitions at Barca. He added style to Cruyff's team after signing from PSV and is quite simply one of the most outstanding all-round footballers to ever play.
9. Carles Puyol
Mr Barcelona? It seems strange to attribute such a title to a no-nonsense defender, given the club's adoration for ball-players – but if the cap fits… Carles Puyol was incredibly commanding for his 5'10 stature, leading several Barca defences to glory.
He was pacy, aggressive and had almost robotic concentration at the back. In 682 appearances, he won six titles and three Champions League trophies. Named in the greatest team of FourFourTwo's lifetime too – as one of five Barça stars in the starting XI – to celebrate the brand's 30th anniversary, Puyol could cut it with the best of them.
8. Ronaldo
Ronaldo was only at Barcelona for a season: it just happened to be the most spectacular single season at a club that anyone had ever seen. The Brazilian struck 47 in 49 games of Barca's treble-winning season, with his absence contributing to the club not lifting four trophies that campaign under Bobby Robson.
Not even a stint at Real Madrid later on could erase the memories: the most amazing of which being his sumptuous solo goal against Compostela. Even Robson was bewildered.
7. Sergio Busquets
Andres Iniesta and Xavi were flashier, for sure, but Sergio Busquets might well be the greatest defensive midfielder of all time. The La Masia graduate has come to define Guardiola's 'Pivote' no.6, with vision, physicality and brilliance at breaking up play that arguably no one has ever matched.
He's been integral for every title and cup he's been a part of and 700 appearances later, he's perhaps as underrated as he ever has been. Cut him open and he bleeds the club – his father was a goalkeeper in Catalonia – and he will long be remembered by the footballing world as a whole: not just this corner of the continent.
6. Diego Maradona
He's arguably the greatest footballer of all time. He's worshipped at Boca Juniors and Napoli. But though Diego Maradona trashed the Camp Nou trophy room, got in fisticuffs with opposing players and didn't live up to his majestic heights at Barcelona, he's still one of the most otherworldly presences to ever grace their team.
In just two years at Barca, he created moments to become mythologised: becoming the first player ever applauded by Real fans in a Clasico, reducing training sessions to the rest of the team standing and watching him and winning three cups in 1983. Maradona ensured that Barcelona was a place for the truly spectacular. His return of 38 goals in 58 Barca games isn't quite testament to quite how much genius he sewed in Spanish football.
5. Ronaldinho
The showman Ronaldinho was the last of the Three R's to light up the Camp Nou. He did it quite unlike the other two.
A £21m signing from PSG, Ronnie was expected to inject a bit of fun back into the Barca side – and though he was always there for a flick, a trick, a back-heel or even a hip wiggle (prior to that goal againt Chelsea), his output was hugely underrated. This wasn't just a performing seal from the Nike ads.
Ronaldinho became one of the best playmakers on Earth during his time in Catalonia, leading Barca to their first Champions League trophy in 14 years in Paris and scooping a Ballon d'Or for good measure. He is still as adored now as he was back then.
4. Johan Cruyff
Pundits, analysts and football nerds fawn over the Dream Team, the diamond midfield and Johan Cruyff's contribution to coaching so much that they sometimes forget just how much of a genius he was on the pitch.
It's similar to how the Cruyff Turn is replayed at every World Cup – yet the flying backheel he scored to meet a cross with against Atletico Madrid is perhaps the greatest goal you've never seen. And the Dutchman was full of these moments. He had vision, versatility, guile, passing ability and the eye for something that no one had ever witnessed: he was quite simply one of a kind and the marriage of football's greatest artist with a city of such culture was a match made in heaven.
Were it not for his on-pitch exploits, the history of Barcelona would look very different indeed. Johan Cruyff changed football – and the Camp Nou was blessed to be his stage for so many of his most wonderful moments. Just two trophies in his playing days there don't do justice to quite what a force he was.
3. Xavi
Xavi might well be La Masia's proudest product: the definitive passing midfielder in its considerably cultured image. A metronome of the game who was schooled in the Barcelona way from the age of 11 and stood on top of the world to represent the club.
Giving the ball to Xavi was basically a cheat code: he would unlock any defence with a feint, a shoulder drop and the most perfectly measured pass. His vision has become legendary that the fact that he so rarely relinquished possession has almost become underrated. Quite simply, he always put the ball in a better place than the place he received it.
Jorge Valdano once said that “If football was a science, Xavi would have discovered the formula.” There may never be a footballer with quite such a combination of intelligence, delicacy and awareness. He is the very model of everything the club aspire to.
2. Andres Iniesta
"He has masterminded some of football's finest heists, but his fingerprints are rarely found at the scene," author Musa Okwonga once said of Andres Iniesta. It's the perfect description of a man who scored fewer goals at club level than John Terry.
The Spaniard first made himself known to European audiences by coming on in the 2006 Champions League final and changing the game. His directness, dribbling, touch and movement has become legendary, with mentor Pep Guardiola assessing that “his mastery of the relationship between space and time,” is second to none.
Because though Iniesta was rarely the full stop at the end of the move, he was everything that Cules hold dear. He was beautiful to watch, looked after the ball like his life depended on it and played the game with such grace that he made it look like ballet. Plenty have tried to replicate him: none ever truly will.
1. Lionel Messi
The numbers of his career have to be seen to be believed. 672 goals in 778 appearances for Barcelona. 228 assists on top of that. 10 domestic titles, four Champions Leagues, eight Ballon d'Ors, six European Golden Shoes and eight hat-tricks in Europe (a joint record with you know who).
We often talk of Messi's achievements through pure numbers – and perhaps that's how he sees the game, crunching the angles as he glides through defenders. But it doesn't do justice to the magic that he's given to Barca fans along the way. The last-minute Clasico goal in which he held his shirt aloft at the Camp Nou. Putting Jerome Boateng on his backside. The Getafe goal. The move to false nine. The 2011 Champions League final performance. The countless moments he did something that no one else could.
And that's just a few. He's not only Barcelona's greatest player ever, he's the most talented person to ever lace up their football boots, having changed the game one shoulder drop at a time.
