'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Barcelona are going through one of their worst spells in recent memory, both on and off the pitch.
Over the years, though, the Blaugrana have been one of European football's biggest clubs, with a trophy cabinet comprising 26 La Liga titles, 31 Copa del Reys, 5 Champions League trophies and three FIFA Club World Cup titles, to name a few.
Some of the game's greatest-ever players have donned the colours of Barcelona, who are one of the toughest teams to come up against. In recent years, the likes of Gerar Pique and Carles Puyol were near impenetrable, requiring players of a high calibre to unlock the Blaugrana defence.
Trending
On that note, here take a look at the five players who have tormented Barcelona the most over the years.
#5 Angel Di Maria
PSG winger Angel Di Maria has been a thorn in Barcelona's side since his move to Real Madrid in the summer of 2010.
In his four-season spell at Madrid, Di Maria squared off against Barcelona 16 times in arguably football's biggest rivalry, the El Clasico. The Argentine also encountered Barcelona thrice as a PSG player, and some of his best performances have come against the Blaugrana.
Barcelona were at the peak of their powers back in the day, becoming the first European club team to win six titles in a year. Di Maria, though, played an indispensable role under Jose Mourinho to halt the Barcelona bandwagon, scoring twice and providing three assists against them during his Madrid days.
The stats do not reflect the full story of Di Maria's impact against Barcelona, though. Di Maria provided the assist in Madrid's 1-0 extra-time win over Barcelona in the 2011 Copa Del Rey final, and continued his exploits against the club after joining PSG.
In three appearances against Barcelona in the Champions League knockout stage as a PSG player, Di Maria has scored twice and providing an assist.
#4 Fernando Torres
In his prime, Fernando Torres was one of the greatest strikers in the game, something that was most apparent in his clashes against Barcelona.
El Nino came up against the Blaugrana with two different clubs. He produced a moment for the history books in the 2015-16 Champions League semi-finals. Torres struggled to find his feet at Chelsea, but scored a stunning counter-attacking goal reminiscent of his heydays.
The Spaniard rounded up the Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes to score the all-important decider in Chelsea's 3-2 aggregate win that night.
The bulk of Torres' appearances against Barcelona were for his boyhood club, Atletico Madrid. In 22 appearances against the Blaugrana, the now-37-year old notched up 11 goals and two assists.
Torres has scored more goals against Barcelona than any other club in his career.
#3 Raul Gonzalez
Dubbed the 'Prince of Madrid', Raul, another Barcelona tormentor, is second on the list of Real Madrid's all-time top goalscorers.
With a staggering tally of 324 goals from 741 appearances across competitions, the Spaniard is one of Los Blancos' most lethal goalscorers in history. However, Raul seemed to elevate his game a notch when he faced off against Madrid's El Clasico rivals, Barcelona.
Donning the legendary all-whites, Raul took to the field against Barcelona a whopping 37 times. During his 16-year-long stint at the Santiago Bernabéu, the now-44-year old racked up 15 goals and four assists against Barcelona.
Raul would play a vital role in Madrid's 11 wins and ten draws against the Blaugrana.
#2 Alfredo di Stefano
Real Madrid great Alfredo Di Stefano was one of the best ever to grace the beautiful game, and was instrumental in Los Blacos' dominance in the 20th century.
Di Stefano held the record of being Real Madrid's top goalscorer for over 45 years, before he was overtaken by Raul in 2009. Di Stefano's 18-goal haul in El Clasico fixtures has still not been overtaken by any Madridista, though.
The Argentine, who later adopted Spanish nationality, was part of the historic Real Madrid team that won five successive European Champions Clubs' Cup (now called the Champions League) along with eight La Liga titles. On the individual front, Di Stefano would finish his career with five Pichichi titles and two Ballon d'Or accolades.
Di Stefano was initially brought to Spain by Barcelona, though. However, the transfer was not ratified by FIFA, and it was Real Madrid for whom the Argentine would eventually play for.
#1 Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo is arguably Real Madrid's greatest goalscorer in history, with a staggering tally of 450 goals in just 438 appearances across competitions.
While no Real Madrid player has overtaken Di Stefano's tally of 18 El Clasico goals, Ronaldo managed to equal it. The Portuguese superstar played a pivotal role in Los Blancos' eight wins and as many draws against a dominant Barcelona side in 30 appearances across competitions.
Most recently, Cristiano Ronaldo showcased a dazzling performance against Barcelona in the 2020-21 Champions League. Taking the field against Barcelona for Juventus, Ronaldo scored a brace to seal a 3-0 win for the Bianconeri.
The 36-year-old has made 34 appearances against Barcelona for three different clubs, including three for Manchester United. While Ronaldo did not get on the scoresheet, he was key in United's 1-0 aggregate win over Barcelona in the 2007-08 Champions League semi-final.
Ronaldo would go on to lift his first Champions League trophy following the Red Devils' penalty-shootout win against Chelsea in the final.
