Lionel Messi



Appearances: 637

Goals: 552

Trophies: 9x La Liga, 6x Copa del Rey, 7x Supercopa de Espana, 4x Champions League, 3x UEFA Super Cup, 3x FIFA Club World Cup

As good as Xavi, Andres Iniesta and others have been for Barcelona, there has never been any doubt that the star of the show is Lionel Messi - a man regarded by many to be the greatest player the world has ever seen.

The list of records and statistics Messi has obliterated is far too long to list here - indeed by now the number of goalscoring milestones he does not hold must be shorter than the number he does.

Even a quick rundown of Messi's most impressive highlights is extensive, be it his ludicrous 91 goals in 2012, 73 goals in 2011-12, a run of scoring in 21 successive matches, winning the Ballon d'Or five times or the European Golden Shoe five times.

Messi has always been more interested in team awards than individual accolades, though, and he matches Iniesta as the most decorated player in Barcelona's history - a record he will surely break in the coming years.

Indeed, the fact that Messi is still just 30 is a frightening prospect considering he is already 300 goals clear of the next highest scorer in the club's history and just 130 appearances short of Xavi's record.

The Argentine has changed football entirely since his debut in 2004, scoring at least 40 goals in each of his last nine seasons, and there is surely no better example of loyalty, consistency and quality at the very highest level in football history, yet alone simply Barcelona's history.

2. Ronaldinho



Position – Forward

Years with Barcelona – 5 years (2003-2008)

Career Statistics

La Liga (2004-05, 2005-06)

Supercopa de Espana 2005, and 2006

UEFA Champions League 2005-2006

Ballon d’Or 2005

Ronaldinho was absolutely magical in Barcelona. He wore the classic No. 10 jersey and was one of the most skillful players of all time. His famous tricks included feint, no-look pass, stepover, and nutmeg. He received a standing ovation from Real Madrid fans for scoring two phenomenal goals in El Clasico at Santiago Bernabeu.

The Brazilian forward was instrumental in Barcelona winning UEFA Champions League in 2005-06. He had a world-class first touch with the ball and was the coolest player under pressure situations. Ronaldinho dazzled the fans with his smile and dance.

3. Xavi



Position – Midfielder

Years with FC Barcelona – 17 years (1998-2015)

Career Statistics

La Liga (1998-99, 2004-05, 2005-06, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11, 2012-13, 2014-15)

Copa del Rey (2008-09, 2011-12, 2014-15)

Supercopa de Espana(2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013)

UEFA Champions League 2005-06, 2008-09, 2010-11, 2014-15

UEFA Super Cup 2009, 2011

FIFA Club World Cup 2009, 2011

Like his boyhood friend and teammate Carles Puyol, Xavi seemed destined to end his career with Barcelona but a transfer to Qatari side Al Saad in 2015 put an end to those ambitions.

Despite not having the fairytale ending many predicted, it takes nothing away from the legendary career the former midfielder had at Camp Nou and for almost two decades of his life, he distinguished himself with his performances in midfield for Barcelona.

Before 2008, Xavi was almost a regular midfielder but the arrival of Pep Guardiola in that summer catapulted him to cult-like status and he became the model upon which the Catalan's possession-based style of play was built.

Famously, the former Barcelona captain had said that a young Xavi was going to retire him, while Iniesta would retire both of them and in many ways, this was an indication that Pep saw something special in the two players even before he delved into management.

Xavi possessed pristine distribution, passing ability and technique to find spaces no one else saw and this made him the embodiment of the style of play demanded by Guardiola based on Cruyffian principles.

Following the retirement of Puyol, Xavi was named the permanent captain and he got the fitting sendforth his career deserved when he lifted the Champions League in his final game for the club to complete his second treble.

To date, he is the club's record appearance maker with 767 appearances in all competitions, winning 25 major trophies while he was also an ever-present figure in the Spanish sides that conquered all and sundry between 2008 and 2012.

Upon his retirement, he ventured into coaching and currently manages former side Al Saad, while he also reportedly turned down the Barcelona job recently.

4. Johan Cruyff



Johan Cruyff Barcelona Legend

Position – Forward

Years with FC Barcelona – 5 years (1973-1978)

Career Statistics

La Liga 1973-74

Copa del Rey 1977-78

Ballon d’Or 1971, 1973 and 1974

Johan Cruyff was one of the most influential figures in the history of football. As a player, he won 3 Ballon d’Or throughout his career. He inspired Barcelona to win La Liga for the first time since 1960. Cruyff led Netherland to the 1974 FIFA World Cup finals.

In the finals, he performed a feint which was later named ‘Cruyff turn’. His philosophy of Total Football had influenced many players and managers. Truly a great player Barcelona could ever have.

Am sure for ever in all Barcelona this man is unforgettable.

5. Andres Iniesta



Position – Midfielder

Years with FC Barcelona – 16 years (2002-2018)

La Liga ( 2004-05, 2005-06, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11, 2012-13, 2014-15, 2015-16, 2017-18)

Copa del Rey (2008-09, 2011-12, 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18)

Supercopa de Espana (2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016)

UEFA Champions League 2005-06, 2008-09, 2010-11, 2014-15

UEFA Super Cup 2009, 2011, and 2015

FIFA Club World Cup 2009, 2011, and 2015

An attacking midfielder who didn't need to score or assist to be the best player on the pitch. The type of player that comes along once every 50 years, a true phenomenon.

6. Carles Puyol

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Joan Cryuff is greater than Messi for Barcelona... Incase you don't know, Cryuff revolutionized Barcelona and gave them a pathway....

great list but i think joan in 4th deserved better if not top