Greatest Spanish legends to wear the Barcelona shirt

Dutch legend Johan Cruyff helped to facilitate the creation of La Masia at Barcelona, establishing a youth academy to replicate the one he grew up with at Ajax. While the talent school birthed Lionel Messi, it also helped develop homegrown talents such as Cesc Fabregas, Pedro, Sergio Busquets, and other successful graduates.

Here are some of Barcelona’s best-ever Spanish players, most of whom received their training at the school.

Andrés Iniesta

A product of Barcelona’s La Masia youth academy, Andrés Iniesta emerged into a club legend where he played for 14 years. The versatile and inventive midfielder played an essential role in the Catalan side that won the treble in 2009 and 2015. His whopping 33 trophies over 16 years in the first team include nine La Liga titles and four Champions League. He received runner-up to Messi in the 2010 Ballon d’Or.

David Villa

A fruitful scorer in his time with Valencia, David Villa signed to Barcelona for €40 million in 2010. He continued his scoring spree with Barcelona, where he bagged 48 goals over 119 appearances. He also won his first Champions League and first and second La Liga titles with the club.

Víctor Valdés

Recognized as one of the most complete goalkeepers of his time, Víctor Valdés earned 387 caps with Barcelona and helped the team win a plethora of trophies including three Champions Leagues, six domestic leagues, and six Copa del Rey.

Xavi Hernandez

The engine of the midfield, the ever-creative Xavi, epitomized the short pass and move philosophy of the tiki-taka alongside teammates Iniesta and Busquets. In his 17-year spell for the Catalonia side, he won 8 Spanish titles, 6 Copa Del Rey trophies, and 4 Champions League trophies.

Lamine Yamal

The youngest player to debut for Barcelona’s first team and Spain, Lamine Yamal has become the face of the next generation. Bursting into the senior squad at just 15, Yamal is already drawing comparisons to past legends for his fearless dribbling, creativity, and maturity beyond his years. As of 2025, he is a full international and a regular starter under Hansi Flick, with the potential to become the greatest La Masia product since Messi.

Carles Puyol

An indomitable on-field leader, Carles Puyol captained the Barca side for a decade, winning six La Liga titles and three Champions League trophies. Not the flashiest player on the squad, he was the most committed and his winning attitude was contagious.

Pep Guardiola

The defensive midfielder played an important role in Johan Cruyff’s Dream Team of the early 1990s, winning the European Cup in 1991 and finishing his playing career with six La Liga titles. His creative vision and sharp passing abilities were a precursor to Xavi and Iniesta, who followed in his footsteps.

Sergio Busquets

A master of the pivot role, Busquets spent over a decade shielding Barça’s backline while dictating play from deep. A La Masia graduate, he won 9 La Liga titles and 3 Champions Leagues before departing for Inter Miami in 2023.

Cesc Fabregas

After a long spell with Arsenal, Cesc returned home in 2011. In his three seasons, he won La Liga, a Spanish Cup, and two Super Cups, adding class and creativity to an already stacked midfield.

Luis Enrique

Known as one of Barcelona’s most versatile players, creative midfielder Luis Enrique earned 300 caps with the Catalan side, where he scored 109 goals. Before he coached the team to the Treble in 2014 (his first season on the touchline, by the way), he had already won La Liga, a Copa del Rey, and a Spanish Super Cup as a player.

Gerard Piqué

After a brief stint at Manchester United, Piqué returned to Barcelona and became a central figure in one of the greatest club sides in history. He made over 600 appearances and won 8 La Liga titles and 3 Champions Leagues before retiring in 2022.

Pedro

The Spanish winger spent seven years with the Catalan side, where he earned 321 appearances and scored 99 goals. During his tenure, he helped the team win Champions League three times along with five La Liga titles, and three Spanish Cups.