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Barcelona are one of the most successful clubs in Spanish history. The Catalan giants are one of only three clubs that have never been relegated from the top flight and have plenty of silverware to show for their success.
With 26 La Liga titles and 5 UEFA Champions League titles, Barcelona have made an indelible mark on European football. The Blaugrana have been defined by a plethora of messiahs and revolutionaries that have transformed the club over the past century.
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FC Barcelona have symbolised the will of their people for decades and have played a pivotal role in the history of the city. The Catalan giants have fielded some of the most influential names in football and are a testament to the success that a reliable philosophy can bring to a club.
Barcelona's domestic dominance has been accentuated by the club's ability to build teams that have a transformative effect on the beautiful game. The Blaugrana have had their fair share of troubles over the past few decades but the club's ability to rise from the ashes and reach the pinnacle of the game time and time again separates Barcelona from the rest of the chasing pack.
The Catalans have had several talismanic players over the years, with an impressive array of legends rising through the ranks at Barcelona's famed La Masia. Barcelona's footballing landscape and has a number of stunning transformations over the years, with each era defined by a particularly special set of players.
Goalkeeper: Antoni Ramallets
Antoni Ramallets is the greatest goalkeeper in Barcelona's illustrious history and was the precursor to some of the Catalan club's most unlikely successes. The Barcelona legend spent an incredible 16 years at the club and enjoyed a trophy-laden career.
Ramallets joined Barcelona in 1946 and went on to win 6 La Liga titles with the club. The legendary goalkeeper had to deal with a powerful Athletic Bilbao side and one of the best Real Madrid teams of all time and still managed to propel Barcelona to extraordinary domestic success.
The circumstances surrounding Barcelona during Antoni Ramallets' time at the club make the shot-stopper a truly special personality. The goalkeeper's sheer resolve during his time at Barcelona sees him pipping the likes of Victor Valdes and Andoni Zubizarreta to a place on this team.
Honourable Mentions: Victor Valdes, Andoni Zubizarreta, Salvador Sadurni
Also Read: Getafe vs Barcelona prediction, preview, team news and more | La Liga 2020-21
Defence
Right-back: Dani Alves
As far as skill-sets are concerned, Dani Alves was tailor-made for FC Barcelona. The Brazilian right-back's free-spirited nature on and off the pitch made him a fan favourite and also added an element of undeniable flair in arguably the greatest Barcelona team of all time.
Dani Alves joined Barcelona from Sevilla in 2008 and blazed his way into the starting eleven. The attack-minded full-back established a telepathic relationship with Lionel Messi and created an attacking set-up on the right flank that can only be described as awe-inspiring.
The Brazilian superstar has an astonishing 105 assists to his name and is also the most decorated player in football history. Dani Alves established himself as a legendary enigma at Barcelona and his departure from the club left his successors with gargantuan shoes to fill.
Centre-back: Ronald Koeman
That one of the most important goals in the history of an elite superclub like Barcelona was scored by a defensive lynchpin and free-kick specialist would normally be a piece of trivia for the ages, but Ronald Koeman was no ordinary defender. The marauding centre-back won Barcelona their first European Cup in 1992 with a blistering free-kick against Sampdoria.
The legendary Dutchman played a pivotal role in Johan Cruyff's 'Dream Team' at Barcelona in the 1990s and is widely regarded as one of the most prolific defenders of all time. Koeman outscored many of his offensive teammates at Barcelona and bagged an astonishing 102 goals in his six years at the club.
Ronald Koeman was a tactically astute defender and was the ideal fit for Johan Cruyff's project at the club. Barcelona's new manager is the latest in a considerably long list of Cruyff disciples to be given the reins at the Catalan club.
Centre-back: Carles Puyol
Carles Puyol may not have rated himself highly as a technically gifted defender but his performances on the biggest of stages often spoke otherwise. The former Barcelona captain was a vocal leader on the pitch and his sheer presence in the side inspired confidence in the rest of the side.
The Barcelona centre-back fought his way in the starting eleven in 1999 and his passion for the Blaugrana immediately won over the Camp Nou. Puyol was the driving force behind some of the most memorable moments in Barcelona history and famously blocked a shot with the club's crest in a clutch Champions League encounter.
Carles Puyol's character and resolve on the pitch make him one of the best captains in Barcelona history. The Catalan giants suffered defensively after his retirement and are yet to find a suitable replacement for their very own braveheart.
Left-back: Joan Segarra
Nicknamed 'The Great Captain' for his stature at the club, Joan Segarra was a loyal servant to Barcelona for 16 years. The left-back hit his peak under the revolutionary Helenio Herrera at Barcelona and used his organisational skills to extraordinary effect in a disciplined back-line.
Segarra was one of the most reliable defenders in Barcelona at the time and his ability to push his side across the finish line set him apart from the rest of the pack. The former Barcelona captain also scored his fair share of important goals for the club and was known for his integrity and honesty on the pitch.
Joan Segarra also had a successful career as a manager and reunited with Helenio Herrera as an assistant coach towards the end of his coaching career. The left-back might not be one of Barcelona's most illustrious names but his achievements over the years have made an immense impact at the club.
Honourable Mentions: Gerard Pique, Rafa Marquez, Michael Reiziger, Migueli, Sigfrig Gracia, Antoni Torres
Also Read: Who is the owner of Barcelona?
Midfield
Defensive Midfield
"You watch the game, you don't see Busquets. You watch Busquets, you see the whole game."
Former Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque perfectly encapsulated the enigma that is Sergio Busquets with his quote on the Barcelona midfielder. Del Bosque placed his trust in Sergio Busquets for several years and the decision worked wonders for the national team.
Sergio Busquets is arguably one of the most intelligent players in Barcelona history. The Spaniard's abstract ability to foresee the events of the game and analyse them on the pitch makes him one of the most effective defensive midfielder the sport has ever seen.
While Sergio Busquets may well be past his prime, the Barcelona midfielder's years under Pep Guardiola saw the club scale unprecedented heights in Spain and in Europe. The impact that Busquets has had on some of Barcelona's most important games over the past decade will likely be dissected and studied for years to come.
Central Midfield: Xavi
Barcelona have produced a number of midfield gems in their history but only a handful would be able to go toe-to-toe with the legendary Xavi Hernandez. The Catalan midfielder carved a niche for himself at Barcelona and was the brain behind the club's extraordinary success on the pitch.
Xavi had a difficult start to life at Barcelona and was heavily linked with a move away from the club in the early stages of his career. The Spaniard stuck it out under a string of managers before establishing himself as a leader of the side under Frank Rijkaard.
The midfielder's career reached astronomical heights after the arrival of Pep Guardiola. Xavi played a pivotal role in the middle of the pitch for Barcelona with his metronomic passing and his wizardry and vision have created some of the club's most famous goals in recent history.
Xavi is one of the most successful players in Barcelona's history and has followed in Pep Guardiola's footsteps by taking up a managerial role. The legendary midfielder is set for a return to Barcelona in the next few years.
Central Midfield: Andres Iniesta
Andres Iniesta is arguably the greatest midfielder in Barcelona's history. The Spanish legend's mesmerising ability to glide across the pitch with consummate ease has led to some of the finest sights in the beautiful game. Iniesta inspired awe with his feet and produced moments of sheer perfection on the pitch.
Iniesta's jaw-dropping dribbling prowess and passing range made him the perfect asset to a Barcelona side that relied heavily on intelligent build-up play. The Spanish midfielder formed an excellent relationship with the likes of Lionel Messi and David Villa and had a massive impact on Barcelona's fortunes under Pep Guardiola.
Andres Iniesta was also known for his uncanny ability to step up in dire and desperate situations. The Spaniard's famous goal against Chelsea continues to capture the imagination of Barcelona fans across the world. Iniesta also won the World Cup for Spain with his extra-time goal and is arguably one of the most respected players in his country.
Honour able Mentions: Deco, Michael Laudrup, Bernd Schuster, Pep Guardiola, Guillermo Amor
Also Read: Top 10 attacking trios in football history
Attack
Left-wing: Ronaldinho
Barcelona's rivalry with Real Madrid transcends the sporting formalities between the two sides. In the context of what has been a geopolitical and ideological battle that has raged on for the better part of a century, only one player has truly inspired awe on both sides of the spectrum.
Ronaldinho is one of a select few players in the history of Barcelona to receive a standing ovation at the Santiago Bernabeu. The Brazilian magician's supernatural showing against Los Blancos in 2006 will go down as one of the best individual performances in the history of El Clasico.
Ronaldinho's arrival at Barcelona sparked a stunning revival under Frank Rijkaard and the Brazilian forward's presence allows the Catalan giants to create a special team that went on to win the UEFA Champions League trophy in 2006. Ronaldinho might not have the best numbers for a forward at Barcelona but the transformative impact that he had on the club speaks volumes about his stature as a Barcelona legend.
False Nine: Johan Cruyff
To put into context the impact that Johan Cruyff had on Barcelona, it is imperative to consider the fact that the Catalan giants had not won a single La Liga title for an astonishing 14 years prior to his arrival. The Dutch maestro's inclusion in the Barcelona side in 1973 set the Blaugrana off to a 26-game unbeaten streak.
The best, however, was yet to come. In what is widely considered a point of inflexion in Barcelona's history, Johan Cruyff's revolutionary 'Total Football' stunned Real Madrid into a 5-0 defeat and caused an unprecedented upheaval in the power structure that dominated football at the time.
Pep Guardiola, who played under Johan Cruyff and is a fierce disciple of his beliefs, perfectly encapsulated the Dutch legend's importance to Barcelona.
"Johan Cruyff painted the chapel, and Barcelona coaches since merely restore or improve it."
Johan Cruyff usually started his games as an attacking midfielder but often became the focal point in Barcelona's attack and changed the way the beautiful game is perceived and understood with his free role. The Dutch legend made FC Barcelona the symbol that it is today and his ideals continue to shape many of the visionaries that emerge from the club.
Right-wing: Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi is probably the only obvious and preconceived inclusion on this list. Neither words nor numbers can do justice to the supernatural aura that surrounds the Argentine genius when he has the ball at his feet. Lionel Messi is the best player in Barcelona's history and is arguably the best player in the history of the game as well.
With an astounding 635 goals and 279 assists for Barcelona, Lionel Messi has established himself as an emblem of the club. His unique exploits at the club and his records are likely to remain untouched for decades to come.
Lionel Messi has won almost every individual award available to a player today and will likely end his career as one of the most decorated players of all time. The Barcelona captain's sheer ability has resulted in some of the most legendary moments in the club's history.
Honourable Mentions: Laszlo Kubala, Paulinho Alcantara, Josep Escola, Mariano Martin, Cesar Rodriguez, Diego Maradona, Enrique Castro, Romario, Samuel Eto'o, Luis Suarez, Hristo Stoichkov
Also Read: 10 Greatest Football Managers of all time
