Ranked! The 50 greatest Barcelona players of all time

20. 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. 

19. Pep Guardiola

If this was a list of Barcelona managers, there would be no one above Pep Guardiola – as it is, he was a blooming good footballer, too. The deep-lying playmaker was Johan Cruyff's brain on the pitch, leading the Blaugrana with intelligence and bite. He was strong, his passing was excellent and even back then, he was a leader quite unlike anyone else. He was a fulcrum in the Barca side that won the 1992 European Cup, too.

18. Rivaldo 

Sir Bobby Robson persuaded Barcelona to sign Rivaldo ahead of Steve McManaman, who ended up on the other side of El Clasico – and what a stroke of genius that was. 19 goals in his first season, 24 in his second and a Ballon d'Or, however, all pale into insignificance, with his hat-trick against Valencia – sealed with a 20-yard bicycle kick – seared into the memory of all who saw it. 

17. 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.

16. 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.

15. 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. 

14. Andoni Zubizarreta

Andoni Zubizarreta only missed four matches in as many LaLiga 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.

13. 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. 

12. 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. 

11. 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.