All-Time Barcelona Team

Some of the game's greatest talent has played in a Barcelona shirt. So who makes the club's greatest roster?

Some of the game’s greatest talent has played in a Barcelona shirt. It is a school of the highest grade, but when selecting the club’s all-time 23 best players, some notable names cannot be included.

Diego Maradona’s finest moments came with Napoli or Argentina, not Barca, where he played from 1982 to 1984. At the Camp Nou, he celebrated just a solitary Copa del Rey, and many elite attackers who played for the Catalan club have surpassed him — particularly Lionel Messi, Maradona’s Argentinian compatriot who plays the same position and may be the best Barcelona player of all.

Barcelona’s greatest era has been in the 21st century, but there were flurries of success in the early 1990s under Johan Cruyff, whose legacy towers above Barca. He makes the cut for inspiring the club out of the doldrums in the 1970s as a player.

Who else makes the roster? Meet the all-time Barcelona team.

Andoni Zubizaretta

Andoni Zubizaretta was one of the greatest goalkeepers in Spanish football history. FC Barcelona

Position: Goalkeeper

Experience: 19 years (1979-98)

Years with FC Barcelona: 8 seasons (1986-94)

Key stats: Won four consecutive titles with Johan Cruyff’s “Dream Team.” Was goalkeeper when Barca won first-ever European Cup in 1992. Played 126 matches for Spanish national team.

Liga titles: Four (1990-91, 1991-92, 1992-93, 1993-94)

Champions League/European Cups: One (1991-92)

All-time FC Barcelona team role: Goalkeeper

Coach Johan Cruyff sold Andoni Zubizaretta after Barca lost the 1994 Champions League final 4-0 to AC Milan, but before that, Zubizaretta was a stalwart of what was then the club’s most successful spell in its history.

He remains one of the world’s best and most enduring goalkeepers of his era.

Dani Alves

Barcelona’s Dani Alvez, left, duels for the ball with Racing Santander´s Christian Fernandez Salas during a Spanish La Liga match in 2008. Manu Fernandez / AP Photo

Position: Defender

Experience: 18 years (2001-present)

Years with FC Barcelona: 8 seasons (2008-16)

Key stats: Won three Champions League titles with Barca. Only Milan legend Paolo Maldini has won more European medals (nine). Played 107 matches for Brazil national team.

Liga titles: Six (2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2015–16)

Champions League/European Cups: Three (2008–09, 2010–11, 2014–15)

All-time FC Barcelona team role: Right back

Dani Alves’ signing from Sevilla in the summer of 2008 added real strength to Pep Guardiola’s team along the length of the right flank.

Barca won a treble of trophies in its first season with Alves in 2008-09 and in the 2014-15 season, with Alves being a mainstay throughout that time.

Ronald Koeman

Ronald Koeman helped Barça win its first European Cup. FC Barcelona

Position: Defender

Experience: 17 years (1980-1997)

Years with FC Barcelona: 6 seasons (1989-1995)

Key stats: Scored winning goal when Barcelona won European Cup in 1992. Scored 67 goals in 192 matches as a defender. Won the European Championship in 1998 with the Netherlands

Liga titles: Four (1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94)

Champions League/European Cups: One (1991-92)

All-time FC Barcelona team role: Sweeper

Ronald Koeman controlled the tempo of Cruyff’s team from the back, often setting up attacks with his supreme range of long passes from out of defense.

His free kick at Wembley in 1992 against Sampdoria ended the club’s long wait for a European Cup.

Carles Puyol

Barcelona’s Carles Puyol, right, challenges Werder Bremen’s Nelson Valdez for the ball during a UEFA Champions League match in 2005. Joerg Sarbach / AP Photo

Position: Defender

Experience: 18 years (1996-2014)

Years with FC Barcelona: 18 seasons (1996-2014)

Key stats: Captained Barcelona for 10 years from 2004 to 2014. Played entire career for club he joined as a 17-year-old. Won Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup with Spanish national team.

Liga titles: Six (2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2012–13)

Champions League/European Cups: Three (2005–06, 2008–09, 2010–11)

All-time FC Barcelona team role: Central defender

Carles Puyol’s long hair was his trademark, a legacy of his love of heavy metal.

He was the defensive warrior for two great Barcelona teams, and lifted the Champions League three times as club captain — in 2006, 2009 and 2011.

Jordi Alba

Barcelona’s Jordi Alba, right, battles Spartak Moscow’s Rafael Carioca for the ball during their Champions League match in 2012. Ivan Sekretarev / AP Photo

Position: Defender

Experience: 12 years (2007-present)

Years with FC Barcelona: 7 seasons (2012-present)

Key stats: Only Lionel Messi got more assists than Alba’s seven in 2017-18. Scored in Spain’s 4-0 defeat of Italy in Euro 2012 final. Won the Champions League in 2015 as part of a treble of trophies.

Liga titles: Five (2012–13, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2017–18)

Champions League/European Cups: One (2014–15)

All-time FC Barcelona team role: Left back

Jordi Alba arrived from Valencia in the summer of 2012, and his speed and endurance down the left have been key in Barcelona’s success ever since.

He and Lionel Messi have enjoyed a telepathic relationship, with the Spanish defender a key supply line for the Argentinian.

Sergio Busquets

Barcelona’s Sergio Busquets, center, competes for the ball against Malaga’s Weligton during a Spanish La Liga match in 2010. Manu Fernandez / AP Photo

Position: Midfielder

Experience: 12 years (2007-present)

Years with FC Barcelona: 12 seasons (2007-present)

Key stats: Father Carles Busquets played for Barcelona as a goalkeeper. Won 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012 with Spanish national team. Won a treble of Champions League, Liga and Copa del Rey in first season.

Liga titles: Seven (2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2017–18)

Champions League/European Cups: Three (2008–09, 2010–11, 2014–15)

All-time FC Barcelona team role: Defensive midfielder

Sergio Busquets’ protection of the defense and sharp passing have been vital in the club’s successes of the last decade, building a platform for creative players to shine ahead of him.

His is a unique talent that suits the team’s style perfectly.

Xavi

Barcelona’s Xavi Hernandez, left, duels for the ball with Valladolid’s Angel Manuel Vivar Dorado during a Spanish La Liga match in 2008. Manu Fernandez / AP Photo

Position: Midfielder

Experience: 21 years (1998-present)

Years with FC Barcelona: 17 seasons (1998-2015)

Key stats: Voted into the FIFA World XI on six occasions. Won four Champions League titles with Barcelona. Collected 31 major medals in his career.

Liga titles: Eight (1998–99, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2014–15)

Champions League/European Cups: Four (2005–06, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2014–15)

All-time FC Barcelona team role: Creative midfielder

Xavi’s passing from midfield was metronomic, creating the rhythm with which Barcelona pulled opponents apart, and space for the likes of Messi to plunder goals.

A winner of two European Championships (2008, 2012) and one World Cup (2010) with Spain, Xavi has claims to be the best Spanish player of all.

Andres Iniesta

Barcelona’s Andres Iniesta, left, wins the ball from Sevilla’s Alves Daniel during a Spanish La Liga match in 2007. Jasper Juinen / AP Photo

Position: Midfielder

Experience: 17 years (2002-present)

Years with FC Barcelona: 16 seasons (2002-2018)

Key stats: Scored the winning goal for Spain in the 2010 World Cup final. Was named in the FIFA World XI nine times. Won 33 major trophies in his career.

Liga titles: Nine (2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2017–18)

Champions League/European Cups: Four (2005–06, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2014–15)

All-time FC Barcelona team role: Attacking midfielder

Andres Iniesta’s grace and creativity in midfield decorated Barcelona’s first team for 15 years.

And he was a player with a taste for the big moment, raising his game when it really mattered for club and country, scoring crucial goals.

Lionel Messi

Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, left, vies for the ball with Mallorca’s Nunes during a Spanish La Liga match in 2007. Manu Fernandez / AP Photo

Position: Forward

Experience: 15 years (2004-present)

Years with FC Barcelona: 15 seasons (2004-present)

Key stats: Has won the Ballon D’Or, named for the world’s best player, five times. Holds the record for most goals scored in La Liga 412 in 444 appearances (through March 17, 2019). Scored 73 goals in the 2011-12 season, a European record.

Liga titles: Nine (2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2017–18)

Champions League/European Cups: Four (2005–06, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2014–15)

All-time FC Barcelona team role: Forward

Messi is the best Barcelona player of all, with serious claims to be the best soccer player to have ever played the game.

Since breaking through as a small, slight teenager, he has scored goals at a record-breaking rate, while simultaneously supplying a bewildering amount of assists.

Without him, Barca would not have been nearly so great.

Ronaldinho

Barcelona’s Ronaldinho, left, dribbles past Javier Ledesma of CD Guadalajara during a soccer game in Los Angeles in 2006. Oscar Hidalgo / AP Photo

Position: Forward

Experience: 17 years (1998-2015)

Years with FC Barcelona: 5 seasons (2003-08)

Key stats: Twice won FIFA player of the year award. Won the World Cup in 2002 with Brazil. Scored 66 free kicks in his career.

Liga titles: Two (2004–05, 2005–06)

Champions League/European Cups: One (2005-06)

All-time FC Barcelona team role: Forward

Ronaldinho’s flame did not burn for long enough, but when the Brazilian was in fullest flow in the mid 2000s, he was recognized as the world’s best player, as Barcelona revived its fortunes and won the Champions League in 2006.

Hristo Stoichkov

Barcelona striker Hristo Stoichkov celebrates after scoring against Manchester United in a European Champions league match in 1995. Denis Doyle / AP Photo

Position: Forward

Experience: 21 years (1982-2003)

Years with FC Barcelona: 7 seasons (1990-95, 1996-98)

Key stats: Top scorer at 1994 World Cup with six goals for Bulgaria. Won the Ballon D’Or award in 1994 for best European player. Scored 84 goals in 175 Liga games for Barca.

Liga titles: Five (1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1997–98)

Champions League/European Cups: One (1991-92)

All-time FC Barcelona team role: Striker

Hristo Stoichkov’s bull-like presence and fierce temperament helped fire Johan Cruyff’s “Dream Team” to winning the European Cup in 1992 and four consecutive LaLiga titles.

His partnership in 1993 and 1994 with Brazilian striker Romario saw them score over 50 goals between them and remains cherished by Barca fans.

Victor Valdes

Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes, left, punches the ball out against Bayern Munich during their Champions League quarterfinal first leg match in 2009. Victor R. Caivano / AP Photo

Position: Goalkeeper

Experience: 17 years (2000-17)

Years with FC Barcelona: 12 seasons (2002-14)

Key stats: Played 535 matches for Barcelona, winning 21 trophies. Played most games in goal for the club. Won the Zamora Trophy for lowest “goals-to-games” five times.

Liga titles: Six (2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2012–13)

Champions League/European Cups: Three (2005–06, 2008–09, 2010–11)

All-time FC Barcelona team role: Reserve

Victor Valdes may not have been the most gifted goalkeeper to play the game, but he was ideal for Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona team, with his ability as an outfield player suiting that team’s “tiki-taka” passing game.

Gerard Pique

Barcelona’s Gerard Pique, right, duels for the ball with Valencia’s David Silva during a Spanish La Liga match in 2009. Daniel Leiva / AP Photo

Position: Defender

Experience: 15 years (2004-present)

Years with FC Barcelona: 11 seasons (2008-present)

Key stats: One of four players to win the UEFA Champions League two years in a row with different teams, having been with Manchester United in 2008. Won the World Cup in 2010 and Euro 2012 with Spain. Twice won a treble of Champions League, Liga and Copa del Rey with Barcelona, 2009 and 2015.

Liga titles: Seven (2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2017–18)

Champions League/European Cups (won with Barcelona in bold): (2007-08, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2014–15)

All-time FC Barcelona team role: Reserve

After moving to England as a youth player with Manchester United, Gerard Pique returned to his hometown club at 21 to become a first-choice central defender for Pep Guardiola’s team.

Pique’s poise and calm on the ball are paired with outstanding leadership qualities that continue to be an asset.

Rafael Marquez

Barcelona’s Rafael Marquez, right, kicks the ball against Club Deportivo Guadalajara during a soccer match in Los Angeles in 2006. Mark J. Terrill / AP Photo

Position: Defender

Experience: 22 years (1996-2018)

Years with FC Barcelona: 7 seasons (2003-2010)

Key stats: First Mexican to represent the club. Won the Champions League in 2006 and 2009 with Barcelona. Played in five World Cup tournaments with Mexico.

Liga titles: Four (2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10)

Champions League/European Cups: Two (2005–06, 2008–09)

All-time FC Barcelona team role: Reserve

A tough but skillful defender, Rafael Marquez also was capable of stepping up into midfield and was a leader on the Champions League-winning Barca teams coached by first Frank Rijkaard and then Pep Guardiola.

José Ramón Alexanko

José Ramón Alexanko was a star signing for Barca in 1980. FC Bercelona

Position: Defender

Experience: 20 years (1973-93)

Years with FC Barcelona: 13 seasons (1980-93)

Key stats: Won 16 titles with Barcelona. Played in two European Cup finals, losing in 1986, winning in 1992. Played 274 Liga matches for Barcelona, scoring 26 goals.

Liga titles: Four (1984–85, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93)

Champions League/European Cups: One (1991-92)

All-time FC Barcelona team role: Reserve

When Barcelona finally won the European Cup in 1992, it was José Ramón Alexanko, the club captain and a late substitute, who lifted the trophy.

He also led Barca to a Liga title in 1984-5, the team’s only league championship of that decade.

Luis Suárez Miramontes

Luis Suárez Miramontes was the architect on Barcelona teams in mid-20th century. Romano / YouTube

Position: Midfielder

Experience: 20 years (1953-73)

Years with FC Barcelona: 6 seasons (1955-61)

Key stats: Helped Spain with the European Championship in 1964. The only Spanish-born player to win the Ballon D’Or, collected in 1960. Twice won the European Fairs Cup with Barcelona.

Liga titles: Two (1958–59, 1959–60)

Champions League/European Cups: Two (1963–64, 1964–65)

All-time FC Barcelona team role: Reserve

Not to be confused with the Uruguayan striker who plays for the current Barcelona team, Luis Suárez Miramontes was the best Spanish player of the mid-20th century, the creative controller of a team that won two Liga titles.

He later won the European Cup twice with his next club, Inter Milan.

Luis Enrique

Barcelona’s Luis Enrique, left, runs past an attempted tackle from Valencia’s Luis Milla during a Spanish Cup match in 1998. Cesar Rangel / AP Photo

Position: Midfielder

Experience: 16 years (1988-2004)

Years with FC Barcelona: 8 seasons (1996-2004)

Key stats: Played 207 Liga games for Barcelona, scoring 73 goals. Won the European Cup Winners’ Cup with Barcelona in 1997. Coached Barca to the Champions League in 2015.

Liga titles (won with Barcelona in bold): Three (1994-95, 1997–98, 1998–99)

Champions League/European Cups: None

All-time FC Barcelona team role: Reserve

A player who made the rare swap from Real Madrid to Barca, he served both clubs with distinction, winning back-to-back titles on joining the Catalan club in 1996.

Luis Enrique was an intelligent player in midfield and across the forward line, but had the versatility and fitness to excel in just about every outfield position.

Johan Neeskens

Barcelona’s Johan Neeskens, right, is still standing after a collision with Real Madrid’s Paul Breitner in 1975. Gomez / AP Photo

Position: Midfielder

Experience: 23 years (1968-91)

Years with FC Barcelona: 5 seasons (1974-79)

Key stats: Played in two losing World Cup finals (1974, 1978) for Dutch national team. Won the 1979 European Cup Winners’ Cup with Barcelona. Was an assistant coach of Barcelona from 2006 to 2008.

Liga titles: None

Champions League/European Cups: None

All-time FC Barcelona team role: Reserve

One of Dutch football’s generation of “Brilliant Orange” of the 1970s, Johan Neeskens played in a largely unsuccessful era for the club but is remembered fondly in Catalonia for his midfield power, skill and a strong shot.

Pep Guardiola

Pep Guardiola was a gifted midfielder. FC Barcelona

Position: Midfielder

Experience: 18 years (1988-2006)

Years with FC Barcelona: 11 seasons (1990-2001)

Key stats: Won the European Cup as a 20-year-old in 1992. Played 479 matches for Barcelona, winning 16 trophies. Captained the club from 1997 to 2001.

Liga titles: Six (1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1997–98, 1998–99)

Champions League/European Cups: One (1991-92)

All-time FC Barcelona team role: Reserve

Before he was a coaching phenomenon, Pep Guardiola was the youthful deep-lying playmaker (defensive midfielder) of the Barcelona “Dream Team” in the early 1990s, granted that key responsibility by mentor Johan Cruyff.

Michael Laudrup

Michael Laudrup in the semifinal of the 1990-91 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup against Juventus in April 1991. Wikipedia

Position: Forward

Experience: 17 years (1981-98)

Years with FC Barcelona: 5 seasons (1989-1994)

Key stats: Won five straight titles, four with Barca, one with Real Madrid. Voted Best Foreign Player of last 25 years in Spanish football in 1999. Voted Denmark’s best player of all time in 1996.

Liga titles (won with Barcelona in bold): Five (1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994-95)

Champions League/European Cups: One (1991-92)

All-time FC Barcelona team role: Reserve

Michael Laudrup’s huge talent was realized in a Barcelona shirt, after joining from Italian giants Juventus in 1989.

His pace, elegance and vision made him ideal for Cruyff’s team as a link between the midfield and attack.

Johan Cruyff

Barcelona star Johan Cruyff, right, vies for the ball with Lazio’s Bruno Giordano during a UEFA Cup match in 1975. AP Photo

Position: Forward

Experience: 20 years (1964-84)

Years with FC Barcelona: 5 seasons (1973-78)

Key stats: Helped Barca win La Liga in 1974 for the first time since 1960. Was voted on to the world team of the 20th century. Coached the club from 1988 to 1996.

Liga titles: One (1973–74)

Champions League/European Cups: None

All-time FC Barcelona team role: Reserve

Johan Cruyff arrived to Barcelona as a 26-year-old in 1973 after leading Ajax Amsterdam to three European Cups, and he immediately inspired Barca to a Liga title.

He made the city his home for the rest of his life, and his football philosophy remains the bedrock of the club.

Laszlo Kubala

Laszlo Kubala with Barcelona in 1953. Wikipedia

Position: Forward

Experience: 23 years (1944-67)

Years with FC Barcelona: 10 seasons (1951-61)

Key stats: Played for three national teams — Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Spain. Scored 152 goals in 219 Liga appearances. Declared best Barca player of 20th century in 1999 poll.

Liga titles: Four (1951–52, 1952–53, 1958–59, 1959–60)

Champions League/European Cups: None

All-time FC Barcelona team role: Reserve

After fleeing Hungary in 1950, Laszlo Kubala, a forward with a fierce shot and high-level individual skills, became Barcelona’s best player of the decade.

He was the inspiration for a team that won four league titles, and Barca became the first club to beat Real Madrid in the European Cup in 1961, though lost the final that year to Portugal’s Benfica.

Samuel Eto’o

Barcelona’s Samuel Eto’o shoots on goal against Real Madrid during Spanish La Liga match in 2007. Jasper Juinen / AP Photo

Position: Forward

Experience: 21 years (1997-present)

Years with FC Barcelona: 5 seasons (2004-2009)

Key stats: African player of the year four times: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2010. Won the Champions League in 2009 with Barcelona, and 2010 with Inter Milan. Scored 108 goals in 144 Liga matches.

Liga titles: 3 (2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09)

Champions League/European Cups (won with Barcelona in bold): Three (2005-06, 2008-09, 2009-10)

All-time FC Barcelona team role: Reserve

Samuel Eto’o, a quick, strong and highly skillful striker, was part of two great Barcelona teams, winning the Champions League in 2006 when partnering with Ronaldinho, and alongside Lionel Messi in 2009.

In Eto’o’s last match for Barca, the 2009 Champions League final, he scored the first goal against Manchester United in a 2-0 win.

Pep Guardiola

Barcelona’s coach Pep Guardiola reacts after a Samuel Eto’o goal against Wisla Krakow during their Champions League third qualifying round match in 2008. Manu Fernandez / AP Photo

Position: Manager

Experience: 12 years (2007-present)

Years with FC Barcelona: 4 seasons (2008-2012)

Career stats: 415 wins, 64 losses, 83 losses, 78.34 winning percentage

FC Barcelona stats: 179 wins, 21 losses, 47 draws, 72.5 winning percentage

Championships (won with Barcelona in bold): Seven (2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2017-18)

Champions League/European Cups (won with Barcelona in bold): Two (2007-08, 2010-11)

All-time FC Barcelona team role: Manager

Pep Guardiola stepped up from coaching the club’s Barcelona B team in the second division to leading the club to galactic heights, instilling a high-pressing style that won a treble of Liga, Copa del Rey and Champions League in his first season.

He owed plenty to Johan Cruyff, but Barcelona’s continued success and worldwide reputation is founded on the team Guardiola forged before going on coach Bayern Munich and Manchester City.

Related: All-Time Real Madrid Team