Ranking the 10 greatest Barcelona players of all time

#3 Andres Iniesta (2010 Ballon d'Or runner-up)

Andres Iniesta is one of the greatest players to wear a Barcelona jersey.

Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta is one of the best players to have graced the game, especially since the turn of the century.

The diminutive midfielder had a sparkling career with the Blaugrana, making almost 700 appearances across 16 glorious seasons. Although he wasn't a prolific goalscorer, Iniesta has scored a few key goals for club and country.

One of them - a 90th-minute strike at Chelsea in the 2009 Champions League semi-final second leg - took Barcelona to the final. A few days later, Pep Guardiola's men became the first Spanish team to win the continental treble.

A nine-time La Liga, four-time Champions League, two-time European Championship and 2010 FIFA World Cup winner, Iniesta has a glittering resume. Together with his midfield partner Xavi (more on him below), the 2010 Ballon d'Or runner-up ran the show for the Blaugrana in the middle third.

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#2 Xavi Hernandez (current Barcelona manager)

Xavi was Barcelona's midfield metronome.

Xavi Hernandez is one of the best midfielders in the game's history. Period. The 41-year-old was the engine room of the Barcelona and Spain midfield during a hugely successful career for club and country.

The eight-time La Liga and four-time Champions League winner orchestrated play from the middle of the park like no one else. Xavi could slice open the tightest of opposition rearguards with precision inch-perfect crosses and passes.

With over 750 games, Xavi was Barcelona's all-time appearance maker before he was surpassed earlier this year by Lionel Messi.

Like Iniesta, the La Masia academy product didn't score too many goals, but laid out plenty of assists (185 as per transfermarkt) to teammates. Xavi, the current Barcelona manager, will look to return his boyhood club to their heydays after taking charge a few weeks ago.

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#1 Lionel Messi (seven-time Ballon d'Or winner)

Lionel Messi is Barcelona's all-time top scorer.

Where does one even start with the peerless Lionel Messi? The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner is widely regarded as the best player to have graced the game.

A one-club man for almost two decades, Messi produced staggering exploits at Barcelona that are likely to stand the test of time. He registered 672 goals and 404 assists, both leading tallies by a country mile.

The ten-time La Liga, four-time Champions League and eight-time Pichichi trophy winner was the crown jewel of a star-studded Barcelona team in the late 2000s and 2010s.

Messi was widely tipped to retire at Barcelona. However, the Argentine had to leave the club this summer after the Blaugrana failed to renew his contract and is now with Paris Saint-Germain.

Nevertheless, Messi remains the greatest player to pull on a Barcelona jersey.