Barcelona is among the elite in terms of the club’s stature, partly thanks to its legendary academy system. The academy has been instrumental to the club’s European success stories, providing world-class players who perform on the world’s biggest stages. The youth setup of Barcelona is considered one of the greatest football academies in world football, having developed numerous world-class footballers since its inception.
The La Masia academy was established in 1979, although initially, the La Masia building was used to house academy talents from outside Barcelona. The academy was established to provide a holistic environment for young players, fostering both technical skills and human values that will benefit them in daily life. The academy remains one of Barcelona’s strongest assets, consistently providing talent to this day. This article will cover some of the greatest footballers to come out of the La Masia academy.
Boyle Lotto, where players can partake in lotto online games, have looked into the history books and researched three of the best players to come out of La Masia.
Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi is widely regarded not only as La Masia’s greatest ever product, but also the best player in the history of the sport. Messi joined La Masia in 2000 after impressing during a trial with the club. Messi was 13 when he joined the Barcelona youth setup, and he quickly made waves within the club, earning the high regard of Barcelona’s senior staff.
Aged 16, Messi made his debut with the Barcelona first team in a friendly match, though his professional debut would follow soon after. He made his professional debut against Espanyol at the age of 17, impressing the footballing world. Following his successful debut, he was gradually integrated into the first team, and the rest is history.
In his 17 years at the club, he solidified his name as the club’s greatest ever player, winning 10 league titles, 4 UEFA Champions Leagues, and numerous other major trophies. Messi has set numerous records in his football career, with the most notable being the most Balon d’Or awards (8) and the most goals in a calendar year (91). His illustrious career has showcased how La Masia can develop young talents into world-class footballers.
Andrés Iniesta
For young Spanish footballers aspiring for a celebrated career, there are no better role models than Andrés Iniesta. The midfielder joined La Masia as a 12-year-old after impressing numerous Spanish footballing teams in a 7-a-side football tournament. Upon joining the La Masia set up, Andrés impressed quickly, rising through the ranks. He captained the Under-15 team in the Nike Premier Cup, scoring the winner in the final as well. This showcased his ability to perform in intense moments and lead his team.
His debut for the Barcelona first team came in 2002, at the age of 18, against Club Brugge in the UEFA Champions League. Following his debut, he was slowly integrated into the first team, and by the 2004/05 season, he played in 37 out of 38 games for the first team.
After spending 22 years at Barcelona, Iniesta left the club to join Vissel Kobe. He won nine league titles with Barcelona, four UEFA Champions Leagues, and numerous other major trophies in which he played a vital role. He retired from professional football in 2024 and is widely regarded as one of the greatest midfielders to have played the sport.
Xavi Hernández
It would feel wrong to have a La Masia graduates list that includes Iniesta but not Xavi. The pair contributed to a formidable midfield partnership, providing the perfect balance to assist Barcelona in their triumphs. Xavi joined La Masia as an 11-year-old after joining from Terrassa FC. After joining his hometown club, Barcelona, he rose through the ranks, showcasing his maturity and extraordinary passing range.
Xavi made his debut for Barcelona in 1998 in a Copa Catalunya fixture. His league debut would shortly follow, and would impress manager Louis Van Gaal. Xavi continued to impress and became a key part of the title-winning team in the 1998/99 season.
The midfield genius spent 24 years with Barcelona and left in 2015 for Al Saad. His loyalty and integrity are to be admired by all, having been involved in numerous transfer sagas. He retired from professional football in 2019 as an eight-time league winner, a four-time UEFA Champions League winner, and a World Cup winner with the national team, alongside Iniesta.
Summary of The Top Talents Developed by La Masia
There are plenty of world-class talents to come out of the La Masia academy; however, these three are widely regarded as the pick of the bunch. La Masia is a family that develops more than just technical ability, but also keeps young talents level-headed and instils life skills that can prove fruitful in all avenues. La Masia has forever been the hub of Barcelona’s talent, proving once again that there are other ways to succeed in football beyond large investment. Even today, Barcelona trusts the La Masia youth setup, with players such as Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsi, and others being key parts of the current Barcelona team.
