#18 Sergio Busquets
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Former Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque sums it up brilliantly, “you watch the game, you don’t see Busquets. You watch Busquets, you see the whole game”. The 28-year-old Spaniard is one of the most underrated, influential midfielders in the game and a personal favourite of mine. In the same way, he catalyses the transformation of defence into attack, Busquets has catalysed the evolution of tika-taka football, making it possible for Barcelona to have played in the way the have by doing the nitty-gritty in between.
At 6’ 2”, Busquets supplies the Barcelona midfield with some much-needed height and physicality, whilst possessing a tactical intelligence heralded by former manager Pep Guardiola. Still relatively youthful with many more years to give in his position, Sergio has claimed six La Liga titles, four Copa del Reys and three Champions Leagues with Barcelona, as well as having won one World Cup and one European Championship with his nation.
Having dislodged the likes of Marcos Senna from the Spain frame and Yaya Toure from the Barcelona contingent at a young age, Busquets also forced Mascherano to play at the heart of the Catalan defence, so that he could occupy the holding midfield role. This season hasn’t been incredible by Busquets’ standards, hence why he drops down the list ever-so-slightly, but he will undoubtedly leave a legacy at the Camp Nou as one of the greatest unsung talents during Barcelona’s most successful spell in their history.
