5 players who made their mark as a teenager at Barcelona

#2 Xavi Hernandez

What does it say about the legendary World Cup-winning midfielder that Barca, two years after his departure, are yet to find balance in midfield since the iconic number 8 left? Just one thing that we all knew: Xavi Hernandez is irreplaceable.

The genius of a midfielder made his Barcelona debut in 1998, aged 18, and went on to become their finest central midfielder ever. The influence he oozed over the team resulted into two treble-winning campaigns for the Catalans.

Indeed, it is no coincidence that his peak coincided with Spain winning back-to-back Euros with a World Cup sandwiched in between. It’s only in absence when someone’s true value is understood properly. Ever since his departure, things haven’t been the same at Camp Nou as Barcelona’s midfield without him looks like a body without a soul.

In his time at the Camp Nou, he was a key member in the teams that won eight La Ligas and four Champions League (except in Barca’s 1998-99 La Liga triumph as he managed only 26 appearances).