One of football fans’ biggest joys is seeing one of their club’s youngsters work their way through the ranks into a world superstar.
To FC Barcelona, it means a lot toward the core of the football club because of the great academy named La Masia. La Masia-which roughly translates to “The Farmhouse” in Catalan-was founded in 1979 to churn out a steady supply of homegrown talent, and players that would one day shine for Barcelona’s senior team.
Since its inception, it has been spitting out some of the greatest footballers to ever play the beautiful game.
From impeccable ball control to tactical intelligence, La Masia graduates have been groomed in the Barça way since they were boys, explaining why they so often go on to form an integral part of the club’s success.
Now, let’s go back and revisit its best-ever products: the 10 greatest La Masia graduates of all time.
1. Lionel Messi
- Major honours with Barcelona: 24
There was never any doubt about who would top this list. He’s the best footballer of all time, Messi is the crown jewel of La Masia.
Though he arrived at the academy from Argentina at age 13, Messi is forever associated with Barcelona. A record-breaking career saw him become the club’s all-time leading scorer, and win an amazing 24 major trophies, including four Champions League titles and 10 La Liga crowns.
Messi was an unstoppable driving force down the pitch, with the element of dribbling, vision, and finish, which has set records that may well never be broken.
Although leaving the club in 2021 for Paris Saint-Germain, Messi’s bond with Barcelona will always be inseparable, and his legacy at La Masia will stand for all eternity as a thing of the brilliance of the academy.
2. Andrés Iniesta
- Major honors with Barcelona: 22
If La Masia has a defining characteristic, then that’s churning out midfielders who are possessed of an incomparable level of technical virtuosity.
And perhaps no one was more representative of that rich tradition than Andrés Iniesta. With silky-smooth dribbling skills and a knack for wriggling out of the tightest of spots, Iniesta went on to become indispensable both for club and country.
The crowning glory of his career was the 2010 World Cup final, during which his extra-time goal sealed Spain’s first world title. Along with Xavi and Busquets at Barcelona, Iniesta formed one of football’s all-time greatest midfield trios.
His major 22 trophies include four Champions League titles, which make him one of the finest midfielders to have played the game.
SEE ALSO | 7 Greatest South Americans To Play In La Liga
3. Xavi Hernández
- Major honors with Barcelona: 17
Xavi defines what a product of La Masía means. Having great vision, the correct passing, and an intelligent way of play, he was the metronome that allowed Barca’s system of tiki-taka to function.
His abilities in terms of technique and spatial awareness were unparalleled, which allowed him to dictate games with minimal effort.
He won four Champions League titles and eight La Liga trophies during his glorious career with Barcelona. He is counted among the most decorated players in Barcelona’s history.
After a short managerial stint away from the club, Xavi returned in 2021 to lead Barcelona to the 2022/23 La Liga title, which further cemented his status as both player and coach.
4. Sergio Busquets
- Major honors with Barcelona: 22
For more than a decade, Sergio Busquets had sat at the base of Barcelona’s midfield, anchoring the team with poise, intelligence, and unparalleled ability to shield the ball from pressure.
A product of La Masia, he came into the first team in 2008, immediately becoming an important influence under Pep Guardiola.
Yet it was Busquets’ more cerebral approach that saw him link defense and attack with optimum efficiency to help make the tiki-taka style so popular for Barcelona.
Since making over 700 appearances and collecting a load of titles, he finally left the Nou Camp in 2023 to reunite with Lionel Messi at Inter Miami.
His legacy is set in stone as one of the best-holding midfielders ever to kick a ball.
5. Carles Puyol
- Major honors with Barcelona: 13
Puyol wasn’t just a footballer; he was a warrior. Renowned for his fierce tenacity and leadership, Puyol had been Barcelona’s heartbeat and soul at the back for over a decade.
With his modest technical ability, what made Puyol one of the most important figures in Barcelona’s success was his determination and discipline, and tactical awareness.
He captained Barcelona from 2004 until his retirement in 2014, winning three Champions League titles and leading the team through one of the most successful periods in its history.
Due to his leadership attributes, Puyol was respectfully nicknamed “El Tiburón” by his teammates, meaning The Shark, a testament to his fighting spirit.
6. Gerard Piqué
- Major honors with Barcelona: 22
Another player who left La Masia early, joining Manchester United in 2004, was Gerard Piqué. Unlike Fàbregas, though, Piqué quickly came back home.
From 2008 to his retirement in 2022, Piqué became a stalwart right in the heart of Barcelona’s defense, forming partnerships with greats like Carles Puyol and Javier Mascherano.
Piqué’s 616 outings for Barcelona saw him win everything: eight La Liga titles, three Champions League trophies, and a host of other honors.
He brought into the mix the cocktail of defensive intelligence, leadership, and technical ability which made him one of the finest center-backs of his era.
7. Pep Guardiola
- Major honors with Barcelona: 9
Before Guardiola was one of the most successful and greatest managers in world football, he was a skillful defensive midfielder who came through La Masia.
He joined the academy at 13 and broke into the first team six years later. He captained Barcelona for many years and won six La Liga titles during his playing career.
However, his most telling contribution to Barcelona was after he retired from the game.
As a manager, he completely revolutionized the philosophy of the club with possession and press. Under his tutelage, Barcelona became a global powerhouse when they won two Champions League titles in 2009 and 2011, playing some of the most beautiful football ever witnessed.
Guardiola’s legacy as both player and manager makes him one of the biggest influences in Barcelona’s history.
8. Cesc Fàbregas
- Major honors with Barcelona: 3
Fàbregas might have made his name with Arsenal in England, but he is most definitely a La Masia graduate at heart.
Joining Barcelona’s academy as a child, Fàbregas left at 16 for first-team opportunities at Arsenal, where he instantly became one of the stars. By 21, he was captaining the Gunners, and his leadership and footballing brain were on full show.
Fàbregas would return to Barcelona in 2011, winning a remarkable eight trophies in only three seasons of action, one of them a La Liga title.
He was an accomplished passer of the ball with eyes for the killer ball. During his time in the club, he had been an influential player.
Later, he went on to win more honors with Chelsea and Monaco before retiring in 2023, leaving behind a legacy as one of the smartest midfielders of his generation.
9. Guillermo Amor
- Major honors with Barcelona: 9
A product of La Masia from another generation, Guillermo was the stalwart in Barcelona’s midfield between 1988 and 1998.
With a reputation for indefatigable work rates, flexibility, and vision on the pitch, Amor lifted 17 major pieces of silverware-five of which were La Liga titles, including one European Cup.
After retirement, Amor had a spell in Scotland with Livingston before coming back to his spiritual home. His post-playing career included coaching the youngsters at Barcelona, where he was still teaching his flair to a younger generation.
Longevity and dedication to the cause just about rank Amor as one of La Masia’s most beloved graduates.
SEE ALSO | 7 Greatest Goalkeepers In La Liga History
10. Víctor Valdés
- Major honors with Barcelona: 13
Very rarely do goalkeepers steal the headlines, but Víctor Valdés was an ever-present figure during Barcelona’s golden era.
He emerged from La Masía to take his rightful position as the undisputed number one in the 2003/04 season. In his prime, Valdés was considered among the best shot-stoppers in the world, admired for his lightning reflexes and authoritative aura in the penalty area.
He made 536 appearances for Barcelona, keeping a sweet 239 clean sheets, while picking up three Champions League titles in the process.
Valdés was part of the Barcelona squad that sealed its first La Liga title in six years during the 2004/05 season and marked the beginning of the particular era of dominance.
After a spell at Manchester United and Middlesbrough, he retired, but his time in the Blaugrana shirt was undoubtedly his best years, which he used to cement his place as one of the top keepers of his generation.
Other best La Masia Players
- Albert Ferrer
- Pepe Reina
- Pedro
- Mauro Icardi
- Luis Garcia
- Hector Bellerin
- Mikel Arteta
- Alex Grimaldo
- Thiago Motta
- Andre Onana
- Lamine Yamal
- Gavi
- Pau Cubarsi
