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Barcelona are one of world football’s most prestigious and successful clubs. The Catalan side boast of 75 domestic titles and 20 international honors to present a truly awe-inspiring collection of success.
The Blaugrana have fielded some of the greatest players the game has ever seen. In recent years, Camp Nou has featured the likes of Andres Iniesta, current head coach Xavi Hernandez, and arguably the greatest footballer of all time, Lionel Messi.
Barcelona have not been a team to fear going up against any opponent in the world. For decades, they have often had confidence in their high-quality players to make the difference with their positive, progressive gameplay.
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However, despite their best efforts, some notable players have had a knack for performing against the Blaugrana. These stars made it a habit to trouble Barcelona, achieving impressive exploits against one of the best teams in Europe.
These players are usually the best in the game, or at least become the best whenever they face the Catalan club. So, without further ado, here are five players who have tormented Barcelona over the years:
Honorable mentions
While this list will focus on recent history, it will hardly be complete without mentioning certain other legendary players.
For instance, Alfredo di Stefano, the Real Madrid legend, was a brilliant and clinical goalscorer in his time, scoring 17 goals in 29 El Clasico clashes. Di Stefano remained a threat to the Blaugrana through much of the 1950s.
Another such player is Athletic Bilbao legend Guillermo Gorostiza. The former Spain international enjoyed an illustrious career against Barcelona in the 1930s, scoring an astonishing 24 goals in 25 games. So far, no one has managed more goals against Barca than Gorostiza across the last nine decades.
#5 Raul | Real Madrid
While Raul was at Real Madrid, Barcelona was often the much better team. In the 37 El Clasico matches he played against the Blaugrana, Raul and Real Madrid only managed 11 wins, losing 16. However, this didn't stop the legendary striker from finding his way through Barcelona's defense time and again.
In those 37 rivalry clashes, Raul scored 15 goals and assisted four. His best record against the Blaugrana came in the Supercopa finals in 1998: three goals in two games to ensure that Real Madrid won the trophy.
His La Liga record against Barcelona is more modest, with 11 goals and two assists from 31 games. However, Raul's overall consistency in El Clasicos made him an itch at Barcelona's side for many years.
#4 Karim Benzema | Real Madrid
Although his goalscoring record against Barcelona isn't the best on this list, Karim Benzema's sheer number of El Clasico appearances are impressive. So far, the star has featured in an astonishing 41 games against Barca, with his first match coming in 2007 while at Olympique Lyon. No other player has played more games against Barcelona in history.
However, it was his move to the Santiago Bernabeu just over a decade ago that has seen Benzema clash against the Catalan titans every so often. 25 La Liga games have seen the star score seven goals and provide four assists against Barca.
Benzema's record against Barceloma is much better in knockout competitions. Seven Supercopa clashes with the Blaugrana have seen the Frenchman score three goals and provide three assists.
#3 Thomas Muller | Bayern Munich
It's not often that a player outside La Liga would torment the Blaugrana consistently, but Thomas Muller has managed to achieve that feat. Bayern Munich and Barcelona have only met in the Champions League, and in seven games where Muller featured, the Blaugrana have won just once.
Mainly because of the German international, the Blaugranes have every reason to worry whenever they face the Bavarian giants. In their most recent matchup last year, Muller scored twice in two group games to ensure Barca's exit from the Champions League.
Overall, the star has managed a stunning eight goals and two assists in seven games, making him one of Barcelona's strongest tormentors.
#2 Diego Forlan | Atletico Madrid
Having played for both Villareal and Atletico Madrid, Diego Forlan has had the opportunity to face Barcelona on a good number of occasions in La Liga. Coming onto the scene with Villareal back in 2004, Forlan started his ruthless consistency against Barca with a brace, followed by a hat-trick in 2005.
While he wouldn't score more goals against the Blaugrana while at Villareal, his brilliance only continued at Atletico Madrid.
Forlan's record at Atletico was a sublime five goals in nine La Liga clashes, including a brace during a 4-3 win against the Catalans in 2009. His total of ten goals in 11 La Liga games against Barca only shed bright light on the star's clinical ability in front of goal, especially when facing Barcelona.
Fans of the Catalan outfit will be pleased that the Uruguayan star is now retired, so they don't have to face him any longer.
#1 Cristiano Ronaldo | Manchester United
No one - in recent history - has a more remarkable set of appearances against Barcelona than Cristiano Ronaldo. While the superstar faced them with both Juventus and Manchester United in the Champions League, it was his stint at Real Madrid that truly stands out. Ruthless in front of goal, Ronaldo managed an astonishing 18 goals and two assists in 28 El Clasico clashes.
While his record of nine goals against Barca in 18 La Liga games sounds amazing, it is Ronaldo's sublime goalscoring in knockout games that are shocking. The star has faced Barca in ten games across the Copa del Rey and Supercopa and has managed a stunning nine goals. In fact, there are only two Cup games against Barcelona where Ronaldo didn't score a single goal. The Portuguese maestro has tormented Barcelona for years, and the Blaugrana were certainly pleased when he left the Santiago Bernabeu for Juventus.
