FC Barcelona have been truly blessed with some quality, quality players in their history. Rivaldo, Romario, Ronaldinho, Michael Laudrup, Hristo Stoichkov, Miguel Nadal, Sergio Busquets, Andoni Zubizarreta … and these are just some of the names who DID NOT make XI!
This side has players from different eras of Barcelona’s illustrious history, from the side that dominated La Liga in the post-war years to Johan Cruyff’s dream team and Guardiola’s all-conquering stars.
The formation I chose isn’t exactly traditional as I opted for a very narrow 3-3-3-1 formation. What’s lacking in wing-play however is more than made up for in the skill and creativity centrally.
Here are 11 soccer legends.
Goalkeeper – The Winged Cat
Dubbed as the “Winged Cat” during the World Cup in 1950, Antoni Ramallets protected the Blaugrana goal for 15 years, winning the Zamora Trophy (for the best goalkeeper in Spain) five times, a record he shares with Victor Valdes. The peak of his career had to be the Champions’ Cup final against Benfica in 1961, but alas, that night in Bern ended up being his downfall, as he was heavily criticized for his performance in a 3-2 loss. Yet, his contribution to the first dominating Barcelona side was immense. After his departure, Barcelona went through a relatively barren run in the 1960’s until the arrival of a certain Dutch wizard in the 1970s swung the pendulum back.
Defense – Trio of Captains
You really can’t look beyond these three when mentioning great Barcelona defenders. Carles Puyol and his curly locks were a frequent sight to soccer fans all over the globe up until his retirement a couple of years ago as we saw him lift trophy after trophy for both club and country. Not blessed with the silkiest of skills, Puyol more than made up for it with his commitment and defensive awareness. At one point it seemed that he was only one in a Blaugrana shirt who knew how to defend, and every suspension or injury lay-off that he suffered was deeply felt.
On the other hand, there’s Ronald Koeman, the defender with the boots of a true goalscorer. Eighty-eight goals over six seasons in Spain is a truly remarkable feat for the center back, with his winning strike in the 1992 Champions’ Cup final still fondly remembered in Catalonia.
Completing this back three is Joan Segarra, who, along with Ramallets, was integral to the Barcelona side that won five trophies in the 1951-52 season. Segarra also had an eye for goal and, being left footed, slots in perfectly in this side.
Midfield – Tiki-Taka Generals
Pep Guardiola invented Tiki-Taka, Xavi Hernandez perfected it and Andres Iniesta is taking it to a new level. This is the trio who transformed Barcelona into a winning machine, game after game, season after season.
Guardiola was the heartbeat of the Dream Team, with his fantastic vision acting as the link between defense and the incredible talent ahead of him. It was in this “pivot” role that the current Bayern Munich manager excelled as he picked up six La Liga titles and a Champions League winner’s medal.
While Xavi and Iniesta both reached the peak of their careers under Guardiola, it was Dutchmen Louis van Gaal and Frank Rijkaard respectively who gave them their first team bows and turned them into such vital cogs in the middle of the park.
For over 750 matches, Xavi passed, passed and passed again, ensuring that his side won the possession battle and territory. In Guardiola’s Barcelona, Xavi set up the orchestra and Iniesta played the music. You really can’t argue against the four Champions League and seven La Liga titles won by Barcelona since Iniesta joined his compatriot at the heart of midfield.
Guardiola famously told Xavi after he saw Iniesta strutting his stuff for the Barcelona U-15 side, “You’re going to retire me. This guy is going to retire us both!”
Attack – A Fearsome Quartet
Laszlo Kubala spearheads the attack in this side ahead of the likes of Romario, Ronaldo, Samuel Eto’o, Patrick Kluivert and Julio Salinas. The Hungarian had everything: pace, power and a devastating right foot. He found the net 194 times in a 10-year spell which was temporarily interrupted by a bout of tuberculosis.
In the hole is Diego Armando Maradona, who admittedly is more known for his exploits for Argentina and Napoli. Still, how can you leave the legend out of any first XI? Despite suffering from a serious ankle injury and liver problems while at Catalonia, Maradona managed 38 goals in just 58 appearances, helping his side to a La Liga and Copa del Rey double in 1983.
Johan Cruyff is synonymous with Barcelona. As a player, he did things that were never seen before, while as a manager, he built a dynasty. He brought “Total Football” to Barcelona, and the result was and still is spectacular. His arrival marked the start of one outstanding and successful Barcelona team after another.
Finally, it’s the man himself, Lionel Messi. His stats are astonishing: 418 goals in 493 club matches, four Ballon d’Ors, three times the winner of the European golden shoe and has claimed 25 major trophies with Barcelona. And he’s still only 28! No need to say much else, really.
Barcelona Best XI
More Best XIs: Arsenal, Barcelona, Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool.
READ MORE:
• Barcelona’s best starting XI of all time
• Tough talk makes Catalan independence a disaster for La Liga, Barcelona
• Top 20 greatest soccer club teams of all time
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15 Comments
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Archie
May 14, 2020 at 10:29 pm
what ? no maradona?????
km
June 19, 2017 at 9:57 pm
Romário
Neymar
June 15, 2017 at 11:46 pm
No Neymar?!?! The write must be high or can’t see past the black & white players(tv color at the time).
V.SARAVANAN
February 14, 2017 at 12:26 am
Comment Text*
G K – ZUBIZARATA
SW – RONALD KOEMAN
CB – PUYOL
RSB – SERGI
LSB – DANI ALVES
DMF – GUARDILOA
CMF – XAVI
OMF – M LAUDRUP
RST – MESSI
LST – RONALDINHO
CF – CRUYFF
SUB : VALDAS (GK)
PIQUE (SW,CB)
THURAM(CB)
ZAMBROTTA(SB,WB)
JORDI ALBA (SB,WB)
MASCARAHANO (DMF,CB)
INIESTA (OMF,CMF)
STOICHKOV(CF,ST)
ETO’O(CF,ST)
NEYMAR(ST,WG)
Marko
February 13, 2017 at 12:22 pm
My best XI from last 25 yrs.
GK – Zubizareta
LB – Sergi
RB – Dani Alves
CD – Puyol
CD – Koeman
DEF. MID – Guardiola
CEN.MID – Xavi
CEN.MID – Iniesta
RF – Rivaldo
STR – Messi
LF – Ronaldinho
Substitute team: 442 formation Valdes,Abidal,Reizeger,Pique,Masquerano,Luis Enrique,B usquets,Laudrup,Figo,Stoichkov,Kluivert. It’s really pain full to left out Laudrup from first XI,but Xavi-Iniesta duo is deadly.
Kingsley
November 5, 2016 at 5:58 am
Ronaldinho over maradona cryuff and kobala .. He gave Barça a rebirth.. Groomed the then future of Barça (Messi) . He is truly a legend and without his name this list is invalid. ..
Futebol
February 28, 2016 at 2:16 pm
Maradona over Ronaldinho is just absurd.
Ronaldinho was, by far, the greater player for Barcelona. Far more important and legendary for the club. People hardly remember Maradona playing for Barcelona.
Perhaps some other Brazilians could also be included – Romário, Rivaldo, Ronaldo.
Ejodamhen
November 11, 2015 at 11:37 am
Whoever left Ronaldinho and Ronaldo (or maybe Eto’o) out of this list made a most inexcusable and unjustifiable omission. Ronaldo and Ronaldinho in place of Kubala and Kruyff… End of story
vump
September 20, 2016 at 2:23 am
Ronaldinho over Cryuff? nah I agree Ronaldo over Kubala, Cruyff was better than Ronaldinho.
Johnny D
October 11, 2016 at 12:29 pm
Why would you have Ronaldo? He played at the club for one single season. He is not even close to Barcelona’s best all time xi. Eto’o would be in there over him by zillions of miles. Ronaldo over Kubala? Barcelona’s top scorer ever(before Messi) out for a player who had 1 single season at the club and that’s all? What a laugh. Anyone putting Ronaldo over Kubala in a Barcelona XI simply know absolutely nothing about the history of the club.
Sharmarke
November 11, 2015 at 10:34 am
Real Fans and People who knows Fc Barcelona Never accepted Maradona to Forget the Sunshine of FcBarcelona Ronaldinho
Ivan
November 11, 2015 at 9:40 am
Ronaldinho over Maradona, agreed, when it comes to Barca.
What about Romario and Stoichkov?
Aamir
November 11, 2015 at 8:14 am
Also Maradona never won La Liga for Barca, he won Copa Del Rey and ‘COPA de La Liga’ which was an experiment with a League Cup style tournament which lasted for four years in Spanish Football before being cancelled.
Julian Delicata
November 11, 2015 at 8:32 am
Yeah did a typo there. Sorry!
Meant to say Copa de la Liga not La Liga
Aamir
November 11, 2015 at 8:09 am
Ronaldinho over Maradona all day everyday for Barcelona. People forget Barca were in the dumps when Ronaldinho came in and lifted them to dizzying heights. Maradona might be the better individual player, but as a contributor to Barca, he’s got nothing on Ronaldinho.