5 Barcelona stars who were also national team icons

#1 Johan Cruyff

Cruyff inspired a whole new type of football after hanging up his boots

The late, great Johan Cruyff was not just a footballer – he was a philosopher, an architect.

He was so good at his peak, he had moves named after him (the ‘Cruyff Turn’), he influenced the footballing culture at one of the biggest clubs in the world, Barcelona, and not only revolutionised the way they played but also the way they produced new, rising stars as it was he who paved the way for their famed La Masia academy.

With the club, he helped them win, both as a player and manager, five La Liga titles, two Copa del Reys, a European Cup, Super Cup and so much more besides.

To talk about Cruyff is to talk about someone whose impact on the Barca team extends even right up to this day – he laid the foundations, it could be argued, for their success, even now, and has always been an integral part of the club’s modus operandi.

For the Netherlands, too, he had an astonishing impact – namely helping them to a runners-up spot at the 1974 World Cup as well as finishing third in the 1976 European Championship.