25. Johan Neeskens
Late Dutch master Johan Neeskens is one of his country's favourite sons. He may have only won two cups in his five years in Spain – but he's a firm favourite with Barca fans, too. Johan Cruyff's right-hand man, Neeskens – who gave one of his last-ever interviews to FourFourTwo – was always available wherever he needed to be with his positional sense and versatility hugely valuable to Barca. It's just a shame he wasn't there for the glory years.
24. Josep Escola
Josep Escola spent 11 years in Barcelona across two different stints in the 1930s and 40s, having been forced into exile for a few years during the Spanish Civil War.
A free-scoring forward, Escola netted 93 goals in 166 games for the club, helping them to two league titles and a Copa Del Rey, cementing his legacy as one of the club’s earliest heroes.
23. Jordi Alba
It was plainly obvious at Euro 2012: Barcelona had made a mistake. Somehow, Jordi Alba slipped the La Masia net to end up at Valencia – but the left-back returned to his home city to play over 400 times for the club who let him go as a youngster. One of the most consistent, energetic and dangerous left-backs of all time, Alba was a key component to Barca's success over 10 years.
22. Luis Suarez
The other one. The Spanish Luis Suarez was the first Barcelona Ballon d'Or winner, pipping Real Madrid superstar Ferenc Puskas and one of the most exciting stars in one of Barca's most celebrated teams. Two titles, two Copas and two Fairs Cups made it a return of a trophy every season during his stay in Catalonia before a big-money move to Inter Milan.
21. Josep Samitier
He was nicknamed 'The Surrealist' but Jose Samitier's record of 184 goals in 13 years set the tone for an entire football club in black and white. Playing between World Wars, Samitier reinvented the position of a midfield general and is still the fifth-highest Barca scorer ever. The star of Englishman Jack Greenwell's side, he later coached and scouted for the club.
20. Laszlo Kubala
A master at finding the net: from anywhere at all. Laszlo Kubala was cool, calm and could dribble his way through any defence, turning Barcelona into a world force alongside fellow Hungarian refugees, Sandor Kocsis and Zoltan Czibor. His record of 131 goals in 186 league games would be incredible even these days: he helped set the bar for Barca stars that would follow his path.
19. Rivaldo
Brazilian international Rivaldo is undoubtedly one of the most talented players in Barcelona’s rich history, earning a Ballon D’or while at the club. The forward raced out of the blocks after his 1997 move, finishing his debut campaign as the club’s top scorer.
Despite falling out with manager Louis Van Gaal, Rivaldo remained a consistent source of goals throughout his five-year stay despite touting himself as a playmaking wideman rather than an out-and-out goalscorer. The Brazilian departed in 2003 having picked up 86 goals and two La Liga titles in 157 appearances for the club.
18. Luis Enrique
Cules were cautious of Luis Enrique for daring to defect from Real Madrid. In his eight years in Catalonia, however, he managed to play in virtually every position, captain the side and even celebrated wildly when he netted in the Clasico. Enrique was a player of deftness and intensity in equal part, managing to fulfil a coach's wishes whatever the scenario, winning two titles, two Copas and a Cup Winners Cup.
17. Romario
Hristo Stoichkov made sure Romario wasn't late to training after late-night parties – and Barca fans are very glad he did. The Brazilian is simply one of the greatest footballers of all time – Cruyff called him the best he'd ever coached – and with 30 goals in 33 games during his first season, he showed the world he was one of the best strikers in the world. His highlights included nutmegging Peter Schmeichel, scoring a hat-trick against Real Madrid and being named FIFA World Player of the Year in 1994: if anything, he was robbed of winning more trophies at Barca.
16. Luis Suarez
Arguably the greatest striker of his generation and in the conversation for the greatest striker of all time, Luis Suarez spent the best years of his glittering career at Camp Nou. A six-year stint littered with goals and controversy saw Suarez establish himself as a great of the game, even outsourcing Messi and Ronaldo in La Liga in 2016.
The Uruguayan was simply unstoppable throughout his Camp Nou career, departing for Atletico Madrid with 209 goals in just 304 games for the club.
15. Andoni Zubizarreta
Andoni Zubizarreta only missed four matches in as many La Liga title wins and was between the sticks for the Catalans' maiden European Cup win. It summed Zubi up: he was never one for the spectacular, finding himself in the right position to make saves more often than not. He had an air of composure that few could match and with over 400 appearances in goal for Barcelona, he's still one of the best signings they ever made.
14. Gerard Pique
At his peak, he was one of the most talented defenders of all time. The rock at the heart of everything brilliant that Barcelona have achieved, Gerard Pique cemented his place in Barca hearts with a pay cut during the hard time, too. Strong, vocal, a brilliant passer and a taker of a great selfie, there are few centre-backs quite like him.
13. Samuel Eto'o
Samuel Eto'o was the complete striker. So few could be so deft on the ball, so intense off of it. And he was utterly perfect for Pep Guardiola: he helped inform the direction that the Catalan would go in with his attack.
Widely considered one of the greatest African footballers ever, Eto'o had put Barca on his back long before Pep arrived, guiding them to the 2006 Champions League final and being the consistent spark of brilliance through the darker periods. He was an integral member of the front three he formed with Messi and Henry, too, showing the selflessness and intelligence to give the other two space when needed.
12. Cesar Rodriguez
Cesar Rodriguez was perhaps Barcelona's very first superstar. He managed reach double-figures in goals in 11 seasons and whether he was helping keep the team in the league or leading them to titles, he was vital.
A key member of the side that won five trophies in 1951/52, he managed to help drag Barca from the bottom to the top too, like no other player has done since: and reports say he dazzled, with an ability to score corners and a prolific touch that no one had ever seen in Catalonia. 232 goals in 351 appearances makes him one of the greatest to ever do it in Blaugrana colours.
11. Michael Laudrup
Michael Laudrup joined Barcelona because he adored Johan Cruyff when he growing up. The Dane would become one of the most exciting footballers on Earth under his hero's tutelage – before falling out with him and completing a controversial move to Real Madrid.
But that shouldn't take away from the fact that Laudrup was one of the most elegant and effortless footballers of a generation in any position that he played. He was one of the most technically gifted of the Dream Team, with vision, speed and passing that was on a different plain to so many of his contemporaries. Without him, Cruyff's side would maybe still have won four La Ligas, the European Cup and plaudits from all corners – but it would've felt a little emptier: like it was missing one of its most influential artist's strokes from its canvas.
10. Ronald Koeman
He's maybe underrated, simply for his poor stint as manager but it's hard to imagine Barcelona in its modern form without Ronald Koeman.
And not just because the Dutchman scored their first-ever European Cup win. A sweeper with unbelievable vision and incredible shooting from distance, Koeman is the top-scoring defender in world football with 90 goals in all competitions at Barca. He added style to Cruyff's team after signing from PSV and is quite simply one of the most outstanding all-round footballers to ever play.
9. Carles Puyol
Mr Barcelona? It seems strange to attribute such a title to a no-nonsense defender, given the club's adoration for ball-players – but if the cap fits… Carles Puyol was incredibly commanding for his 5'10 stature, leading several Barca defences to glory.
He was pacy, aggressive and had almost robotic concentration at the back. In 682 appearances, he won six titles and three Champions League trophies. Named in the greatest team of FourFourTwo's lifetime too – as one of five Barça stars in the starting XI – to celebrate the brand's 30th anniversary, Puyol could cut it with the best of them.
8. Ronaldo
Ronaldo was only at Barcelona for a season: it just happened to be the most spectacular single season at a club that anyone had ever seen. The Brazilian struck 47 in 49 games of Barca's treble-winning season, with his absence contributing to the club not lifting four trophies that campaign under Bobby Robson.
Not even a stint at Real Madrid later on could erase the memories: the most amazing of which being his sumptuous solo goal against Compostela. Even Robson was bewildered.
7. Sergio Busquets
Andres Iniesta and Xavi were flashier, for sure, but Sergio Busquets might well be the greatest defensive midfielder of all time. The La Masia graduate has come to define Guardiola's 'Pivote' no.6, with vision, physicality and brilliance at breaking up play that arguably no one has ever matched.
He's been integral for every title and cup he's been a part of and 700 appearances later, he's perhaps as underrated as he ever has been. Cut him open and he bleeds the club – his father was a goalkeeper in Catalonia – and he will long be remembered by the footballing world as a whole: not just this corner of the continent.
6. Diego Maradona
He's arguably the greatest footballer of all time. He's worshipped at Boca Juniors and Napoli. But though Diego Maradona trashed the Camp Nou trophy room, got in fisticuffs with opposing players and didn't live up to his majestic heights at Barcelona, he's still one of the most otherworldly presences to ever grace their team.
In just two years at Barca, he created moments to become mythologised: becoming the first player ever applauded by Real fans in a Clasico, reducing training sessions to the rest of the team standing and watching him and winning three cups in 1983. Maradona ensured that Barcelona was a place for the truly spectacular. His return of 38 goals in 58 Barca games isn't quite testament to quite how much genius he sewed in Spanish football.
5. Ronaldinho
The showman Ronaldinho was the last of the Three R's to light up the Camp Nou. He did it quite unlike the other two.
A £21m signing from PSG, Ronnie was expected to inject a bit of fun back into the Barca side – and though he was always there for a flick, a trick, a back-heel or even a hip wiggle (prior to that goal againt Chelsea), his output was hugely underrated. This wasn't just a performing seal from the Nike ads.
Ronaldinho became one of the best playmakers on Earth during his time in Catalonia, leading Barca to their first Champions League trophy in 14 years in Paris and scooping a Ballon d'Or for good measure. He is still as adored now as he was back then.
4. Johan Cruyff
Pundits, analysts and football nerds fawn over the Dream Team, the diamond midfield and Johan Cruyff's contribution to coaching so much that they sometimes forget just how much of a genius he was on the pitch.
It's similar to how the Cruyff Turn is replayed at every World Cup – yet the flying backheel he scored to meet a cross with against Atletico Madrid is perhaps the greatest goal you've never seen. And the Dutchman was full of these moments. He had vision, versatility, guile, passing ability and the eye for something that no one had ever witnessed: he was quite simply one of a kind and the marriage of football's greatest artist with a city of such culture was a match made in heaven.
Were it not for his on-pitch exploits, the history of Barcelona would look very different indeed. Johan Cruyff changed football – and the Camp Nou was blessed to be his stage for so many of his most wonderful moments. Just two trophies in his playing days there don't do justice to quite what a force he was.
3. Xavi
Xavi might well be La Masia's proudest product: the definitive passing midfielder in its considerably cultured image. A metronome of the game who was schooled in the Barcelona way from the age of 11 and stood on top of the world to represent the club.
Giving the ball to Xavi was basically a cheat code: he would unlock any defence with a feint, a shoulder drop and the most perfectly measured pass. His vision has become legendary that the fact that he so rarely relinquished possession has almost become underrated. Quite simply, he always put the ball in a better place than the place he received it.
Jorge Valdano once said that “If football was a science, Xavi would have discovered the formula.” There may never be a footballer with quite such a combination of intelligence, delicacy and awareness. He is the very model of everything the club aspire to.
2. Andres Iniesta
"He has masterminded some of football's finest heists, but his fingerprints are rarely found at the scene," author Musa Okwonga once said of Andres Iniesta. It's the perfect description of a man who scored fewer goals at club level than John Terry.
The Spaniard first made himself known to European audiences by coming on in the 2006 Champions League final and changing the game. His directness, dribbling, touch and movement has become legendary, with mentor Pep Guardiola assessing that “his mastery of the relationship between space and time,” is second to none.
Because though Iniesta was rarely the full stop at the end of the move, he was everything that Cules hold dear. He was beautiful to watch, looked after the ball like his life depended on it and played the game with such grace that he made it look like ballet. Plenty have tried to replicate him: none ever truly will.
1. Lionel Messi
The numbers of his career have to be seen to be believed. 672 goals in 778 appearances for Barcelona. 228 assists on top of that. 10 domestic titles, four Champions Leagues, eight Ballon d'Ors, six European Golden Shoes and eight hat-tricks in Europe (a joint record with you know who).
We often talk of Messi's achievements through pure numbers – and perhaps that's how he sees the game, crunching the angles as he glides through defenders. But it doesn't do justice to the magic that he's given to Barca fans along the way. The last-minute Clasico goal in which he held his shirt aloft at the Camp Nou. Putting Jerome Boateng on his backside. The Getafe goal. The move to false nine. The 2011 Champions League final performance. The countless moments he did something that no one else could.
And that's just a few. He's not only Barcelona's greatest player ever, he's the most talented person to ever lace up their football boots, having changed the game one shoulder drop at a time.
