Top 11 Greatest Barcelona Players in Football History

The original Ronaldo only lasted one season in the Catalonian capital. However, it was a heck of a year. Coming to Barcelona from the Netherlands PSV in 1996, the Brazilian striker played 49 games in all competitions and scored a stunning 47 goals! Ronaldo even secured the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1997 against Paris Saint-Germain with his penalty. In La Liga, R9 slotted in 34 goals, assuring himself the Pichichi Trophy as top goalscorer, with Alfonso Pérez in a distant second with 25. The accolades don’t end there, as Ronaldo went on to capture the FIFA World Player of the Year award in 1997. After falling out with Barcelona, Ronaldo moved on in 1997. But his brief stint still goes down in the club’s folklore.

While Danish legend Michael Laudrup was one of the few stars to cross the El Clásico line by leaving Barça for Real Madrid, his work for the club couldn’t be overstated. As a member of Johan Cruyff’s aptly named “Dream Team,” the playmaker was a vital component in turning Barcelona into the powerhouse it is today when he signed from Italy’s Juventus in 1989. Laudrup’s deft skills and vision were key factors in getting Barça four La Liga titles in a row from 1990/91 season to 1993/94. It’s no wonder Laudrup was voted Spain’s best foreign player in 1999 of the previous 25 years.

Club loyalty is a rare commodity in football. Many players sign for several teams throughout their careers. But not Carles Puyol, who essentially lived and breathed Barcelona. The iconic long curly haired center-back joined the Barça organization in 1996 as a youth player before bursting into the first team in 1999. After being made captain in 2004, Puyol soon developed a reputation as one of the club’s greatest leaders and defenders. Noted for his ability to read the game and lead by example, he helped Barça secure 27 trophies before injuries resulted in him calling it a career in 2014.

Having played as a defender and midfielder throughout his career, Ronald Koeman has a goalscoring record that many forwards would be proud of. After joining Barça in 1989 from PSV, Koeman became a pivotal member of the converted “Dream Team.” In addition to winning many titles with the club, the Netherlands legend scored 88 goals in 264 Barcelona appearances, several of which were stunning free kicks. His most memorable came during the 1992 European Cup final against Italy's Sampdoria. Deep into extra time with the score nil-nil, Koeman fired in a rocket free kick, securing Barça’s first-ever Champions League win!

Another member of the “Dream Team” era after joining Barcelona from CSKA Sofia in 1990, Hristo Stoichkov quickly established himself as one of the best and fiercest players in the world after his ban for stamping on a referee’s foot. After his first season, Barça won their first of four La Liga titles in a row. The Bulgarian’s partnership with Romário that’s gone down in folklore and his prolific work for club and country secured him the 1994 Ballon d’Or, becoming the first Bulgarian to win the coveted prize. With 255 appearances for the Catalonia side, Stoichkov scored 117 times over two stints with the club until 1998.

When people discuss the best player to ever walk onto a football pitch, Argentina’s Diego Maradona is always mentioned. The playmaker was a nightmare for defenders with his incredible balance and turn of pace. Maradona joined Barcelona from Boca Juniors for a then world record £5 million fee in 1982. The following year, he became the first Barcelona player to be applauded by Real Madrid fans after his starring performance in El Clásico. Over two seasons, Maradona scored 38 times in 58 appearances for Barça. And while his Catalonian days may be overshadowed by the infamous fight with Athletic Bilbao players in the 1984 Copa del Rey Final, his talents at Camp Nou have put him in the history books.

Another player considered one of the greatest of all time, Johan Cruyff made his name at Ajax before joining Barcelona in 1973 for a then-world record fee of £922,000. The inventor of the beloved Cruyff Turn had already won one Ballon d’Or before moving to Spain. While in Barça’s colors, he won the famous award two more times in 1973 and 1974. During his five-year stint with the club, the Dutch forward scored 60 goals in 180 appearances, earning two major trophies for the team. Cruyff would return to the team as their manager in 1988 and he deployed his Total Football approach that won the club 11 major trophies in 8 years and laid the foundations for making Barcelona one of the most iconic teams in the world.

Beyond scoring the winning goal in Spain’s World Cup win in 2010, Andrés Iniesta was the midfield general of Barcelona alongside teammate Xavi. Iniesta was noted for his ability to turn any game in Barça’s favor in an instant. On top of his incredible control and footballing intelligence, Iniesta’s composure on the ball brought a much-needed calmness to the side. After moving through the youth sides and making his first team debut in 2002, Iniesta soon became ever-present in a dominating Barcelona side. His performances in 2010 alone made him a runner-up for the Ballon d’Or and he was even placed in third for the award in 2012. By the time he left in 2018, Iniesta had made 674 appearances with 57 goals and 136 assists.

With quick feet, incredible skills matched with long hair, and an ever-present smile on his face, Ronaldinho took the world by storm after signing for Barcelona from Paris Saint-Germain in 2003. After all, in his La Liga debut against Sevilla, he hammered in an outrageous goal after demonstrating a dribbling masterclass! In his five years at the club, the Brazilian midfielder secured five major trophies, making 207 appearances, scoring 94 goals, and 70 assists. He also won the FIFA World Player of the Year in 2004 and 2005 and took home the 2005 Ballon d’Or.

After making his first team debut in 1998, Xavi became a vital cog in the Barça machine with his astonishing vision and uncanny ability to be in the right place at the right time. On top of being a key figure in Spain’s international domination, after departing the club in 2015, he had won 32 trophies with Barcelona with 767 appearances, 85 goals, and 185 assists. Xavi’s performances earned him three consecutive third-place finishes in the Ballon d’Or from 2009 to 2011. In 2020, he was included in the Ballon d’Or dream first team.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Samuel Eto'o
The Cameroon International Became One of Spain’s Greatest African Players Due to His Legendary Goalscoring in Barça Colors

Luis Suárez
The Original Luis Suárez Was the First Barcelona and Spain-Born Male Player to Win the Ballon D’or in 1960

Luis Suárez
As Part of Barcelona’s Iconic MSN, Suárez Was A Nightmare for Defenders

Romário
Only in Barça for two seasons, Romário’s magical goalscoring led to him winning the 1994 FIFA World Player of the Year

Sergio Busquets
The Unsung Hero Who Played Exceptionally Well Alongside Legends Including Xavi, Iniesta, and Messi

Was anyone else going to be at the top? After all, there aren't many records that Lionel Messi hasn’t broken for Barcelona. For starters, he’s made the most appearances for the club with 778 from 2004 to 2021, and has taken home 35 trophies! He’s also the club’s top goalscorer with an astonishing 672 goals. With his magical feet, unparalleled balance, and leading by example, the Argentinian forward is also the record winner of the Ballon d’Or. To date, he’s come first 7 times to rival Cristiano Ronaldo’s 5. Messi’s 2012 calendar year alone is legendary, as he fired in 91 goals for Barça and Argentina, smashing Gerd Müller's then-record of 85 in 1972. It’s a career that likely won’t ever be topped.

Who’s your favorite player to don a Barcelona jersey? Let us know in the comments!