10 greatest Barcelona players of all time

Barcelona are undoubtedly one of the greatest club sides of all time and they have had some absolute legends of the game play for them. Unsurprisingly most of the players on this list are from Johan Cruyff's dream team or the ridiculously successful team which was formed by Pep Guardiola.

Legends like Diego Maradona, Luis Figo, Rivaldo do not even make this list showing how difficult it was to pick the top 10 players from the Catalan giants. Without much ado, let us take a look at the 10 greatest Barcelona players of all time:

#10 Pep Guardiola

Celebrated manager Pep Guardiola was also one of the best defensive midfielders to grace the game. A product of the famed La Masia academy, Guardiola was a role model to superstars like Xavi and Iniesta.

Pep learned his playing style, perfected it and built an entire philosophy around it. At the core of Cruyff’s ‘Dream Team’ of the 1990s, Guardiola occupied the ‘pivot’ role and formed a direct link between defence and attack. The Spaniard had excellent positioning skills and he was exemplary at circulating the ball and keeping possession for Barcelona.

The Spaniard believed in holding possession and utilising it to the utmost effect. He played a vital role in the club’s first European Cup win in 1992, won four successive league titles between 1991 and 1994, and has since gone on to transfer his tactical genius to the sidelines. It is certain that the man from Catalonia remains one of the finest footballers and managers of all time.

Guardiola is definitely one of the most intelligent players to have ever graced the game.

#9 Johan Cruyff

The man who created a whole new philosophy of ‘total football’, Johan Cruyff is rightly considered by many to be one of the most important people in football's history. Cruyff redefined the way the game was played and won the Ballon d'Or award an incredible 3 times (1971,1973,1974) during his stellar career.

In the summer of 1973, FC Barcelona came calling for the “Flying Dutchman” and signed him for a then world record transfer fee of $2 million. His arrival at Barcelona helped the Catalan giants put behind their arch-rivals Real Madrid as they thrashed them 5-0 at the Bernabeu and claimed a first La Liga title in 14 years.

Dutch journalist Hubert Smeets wrote: "Cruyff was the first player who understood that he was an artist, and the first who was able and willing to collectivise the art of sports". A player who truly made the game beautiful, the late great Johan Cruyff will forever remain immortal in the minds of football supporters.

Although Cruyff won only one La Liga and Copa Del Rey title at Barcelona, the impact he had will forever be remembered by the Barcelona faithful.

#8 Carles Puyol

Probably Barcelona’s greatest leader, Carles Puyol definitely deserves a place on this list. A firm fan favourite for his fighting displays, Puyol always gave more than a 100% every time he played for Barcelona and Spain.

Regarded as one of the best defenders of his generation, Puyol was known for his commanding presence in the air, his composure on the ball and his intense commitment and ruggedness. According to Barcelona's head doctor, he was "the strongest, who has the quickest reactions, and who has the most explosive strength."

A true leader and a motivator, Puyol was one of those players who worked unbelievably hard to make the most of his talents. Puyol himself modestly said:

"I don't have Romario’s technique, [Marc] Overmars' pace or [Patrick] Kluivert's strength. But I work harder than the others. I'm like the student who is not as clever, but revises for his exams and does OK in the end."

Three Champions League wins and six La Liga titles with Barcelona shows that Puyol definitely did much better than OK in the end.

#7 Ronald Koeman

One of the best ball playing defenders in the history of the game, Ronald Koeman was an integral part of Johan Cruyff’s ‘dream team’ in the 1990s. The former Barcelona defender who was also capable of playing as a sweeper was well known for his ability to play long passes and his powerful shooting.

A player who truly epitomised the total football style of Cruyff, Koeman was a pioneer in the ‘attacking’ centre-back role. The legendary Dutchman had an incredible 6 seasons at Barcelona, where he won the La Liga four times in a row between 1990 and 1994.

Koeman was also known for his immaculate set-piece abilities and his incredible free-kick in the 5-0 El Clasico win against Real Madrid in the La Liga is still spoken about fondly by the Blaugrana faithful.

Koeman revolutionised the art of defending at Barcelona.

#6 Luis Suarez (1960s)

One of the best players to have ever played, Luis Suarez was an elegant player who dictated and controlled proceedings as a central midfielder for Barcelona. The Spaniard was the first Spanish player to win the Ballon d’Or and he was widely considered to be the best Spanish player in the 1960s.

Nicknamed El Arquitecto (The Architect) he was noted for his perceptive passing and explosive shot. He also had a keen eye for goal and he was an integral part of the 1964 Euro winning Spanish squad.

A versatile player, Suarez excelled in his role as a deep-lying playmaker, scoring and assisting numerous important goals for Barcelona. Luis Suarez won 2 La Ligas, 2 Copa Del Reys and 2 Fair Cups in his six-year spell at Barcelona.

In 1961, he made a move to Inter Milan which made him the world’s most expensive footballer of that time.

A true Barcelona legend, Suarez was one of the first truly global Spanish superstars.

#5 Hristo Stoichkov

Bulgaria’s greatest ever player and winner of the Ballon d’Or award in 1994, Hristo Stoichkov was an integral part of Johan Cruyff’s dream team which dominated Spanish football in the 1990s.

A versatile forward, Stoichkov was capable of the extraordinary and scored plenty of important goals playing as a striker or as an attacking midfielder. Known for hs creativity, pace and technical ability, Stoichkov at his best was simply unplayable.

Winner of 5 La Liga titles, Barcelona’s first European Championship and numerous other trophies during his spell at the Catalan club, Stoichkov is rightly considered by many as the greatest attacking midfielder to play for the club.

#4 Ronaldinho

The first step towards Barcelona’s dominance of modern football was achieved with the signing of Ronaldinho. One of the most skilled players ever to play the game, Ronaldinho’s signing in 2003 ushered in a new era of dominance for Barcelona.

A first league title in six years was a direct result of the Brazilian’s artistry. Who can forget the way he destroyed Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu in 2005 where even the Madridistas stood up to applaud – a gesture that is only reserved for the very best opponents. ( Maradona. Ronaldinho and Iniesta)

The smiling Brazilian also helped Barcelona to their first Champions League title in 14 years when they got the better of Arsenal in the 2006 Champions League final. A man who always played with a smile on his lips, Ronaldinho truly revolutionised football in Barcelona.

#3 Andres Iniesta

The diminutive Spaniard has been astonishing the footballing world since 2005 and there are no signs of him slowing down. A true gem in the crown of the Barcelona midfield, Iniesta almost has a telepathic understanding of his team mates’ positions. Always setting up goals or scoring crucial ones, Iniesta is truly a big match player. Much like other Barcelona youth products such as Guardiola and Xavi.

Iniesta relies on exceptional creative passing, intuition and inventiveness to control the midfield and dictate the ebb and flow of play. He has won 29 trophies in his stellar career making him the most successful Spanish player of all time.

Iniesta won the UEFA Best Player in Europe award in 2012, and was also chosen as the Best Player of the 2011-12 Champions League. He was runner-up to Lionel Messi for the 2010 FIFA Ballon d’Or and achieved third place in 2012.

The Spaniard is only one of three Barcelona players to receive a standing ovation at the Bernabeu showing how appreciated his unique qualities are. A wonderful dribbler and an excellent passer, Iniesta is one of the best midfielders to have ever played the beautiful game.

#2 Xavi Hernandez

Considered by many to be the greatest Spanish player ever, Xavi Hernandez is truly one of the best midfielders to ever play the game. The Spanish legend has won the La Liga an astonishing eight times. Having won all the trophies club competition has to offer, Xavi is arguably the best midfielder in La Liga history.

Xavi's vision, pinpoint accurate passing and world class ball control allowed him to dictate the flow of play while rarely relinquishing possession. His ability to control some matches has earned him the sobriquet, "The Puppet Master". His amazing positioning and ability to pick out the right pass every time made him integral to both Barcelona and the Spanish national side.

Pulling the strings in midfield, Xavi was the lynchpin in Pep Guardiola’s all-conquering Barcelona team. Having made more than 180 assists in his stellar career, Xavi is definitely one of Barcelona’s greatest icons.

#1 Lionel Messi

The greatest number 10 Barcelona have had and will probably ever have, Lionel Messi is a footballer who defines an era. One of the two standout footballers of this generation along with Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi has won a staggering 28 trophies with Barcelona.

The only footballer ever to win the Ballon d’Or five times, Lionel Messi is an absolute phenomenon. The diminutive Argentine has been Barcelona’s main man since 2008 and has put in some spell bounding performances in La Liga and the Champions League.

Although Pep Guardiola played him as a false 9, Messi under the stewardship of Luis Enrique now plays on the right wing. Positions do not seem to matter for the Argentine maestro as he seems to dominate the game no matter where he plays on the pitch.

Lionel Messi is easily the greatest Barcelona player of all time.

Honourable mentions: Rivaldo, Romario, Laszlo Kubala, Michael Laudrup