Lionel Messi and 5 Other Non-Spanish Stars Who Played for FC Barcelona
There are 20 teams in La Liga, the top-tier Spanish football league, and 514 players. Fifty-nine percent of those players were born in Spain while 41 percent, or 211 players, are from other countries. While FC Barcelona, one of the most accomplished clubs in the world, strives to develop Spanish nationals (Andrés Iniesta, David Villa, and Xavi Hernandez, to name a few), it also leverages its financial muscle to sign world-class players from countries all around the world. As of August 5, 2023, more than half of the team’s roster was comprised of foreigners.
Lionel Messi is the best example of Barcelona utilizing its money and resources to develop and/or sign top foreign players. A 36-year-old forward and attacking midfielder from Argentina, Messi left his home at 13 years old to sign with Barcelona and develop his skills at the famed La Masia youth academy. He debuted with the senior club at just 17 years old and, over the course of 17 seasons, established himself as not only the best player in La Liga history, but arguably the best of all-time.
Messi, who later played two seasons with Paris Saint-Germain in France and is now playing with Inter Miami in the United States, won a club-record 34 trophies with Barcelona and is the all-time La Liga leader in goals (474), assists (192), and hat-tricks (36). He also holds the record for the most goals scored with one club at 672. Moreover, Messi recently cemented his status among the best of all-time by leading Argentina to win the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Below is a look at five other great foreign players to star for Barcelona.
1. Johan Cruyff (Netherlands)
If he’s not Barcelona’s second-best foreign star based on his abilities on the pitch, Johan Cruyff is certainly among the most important non-Spanish players in club history. After a decorated playing career, which included five seasons with Barcelona, Cruyff was hired to manage the club in 1988. He implemented the club’s effective 3–4–3 formation and, because he needed better midfielders, changed the development philosophy at La Masia. Prior to Cruyff’s appointment as manager, Barcelona only signed players that were 5-foot-9 or taller to its youth academy; Cruyff put a greater emphasis on skill.
“For Johan it was more about staying tight, being quick and trying to go forward than being good in the air,” said right-back Albert Ferrer, a product of the new development philosophy. “He clearly knew what kind of players he needed, and he had no problem in selecting shorter players or bringing through youngsters. He was convinced that this was the way forward.”
Born in the Netherlands, Cruyff was a key member of the Barcelona club that won the La Liga title in 1974, ending a 14-year drought.
2. Dani Alves (Brazil)
Brazilian right-back Dani Alves joined Barcelona from La Liga club Sevilla FC in 2008 for a €35.50m transfer fee. He played 408 of his 869 career games with Barcelona, during which time he scored 22 goals and added 105 assists while showcasing consistent defending with pace and aggression. During his impressive tenure with Barcelona, Alves won six La Liga titles, four Spanish Cups, three UEFA Champions League titles, and three FIFA Club World Cups.
3. Ronaldinho (Brazil)
Also from Brazil, left winger and attacking midfielder Ronaldinho enjoyed tremendous success on the pitch both with Barcelona and the Brazilian national team. He joined the club in 2003 on a €32.25m transfer fee from Paris Saint-Germain and was a mainstay in the first team until 2008, when he left for AC Milan. Through 145 matches across all competition levels with Barcelona, Ronaldinho scored 70 goals and added 50 assists. He won the Ballon d’or in 2005 as the top player in the world and won two La Liga titles, two Spanish Cups, and the 2006 UEFA Champions League.
4. Luis Suarez (Uruguay)
A Uruguayan striker, Luis Suarez was a member of Barcelona’s first team from 2014–20, during which time he scored 209 goals in 304 matches. He also won four La Liga titles, two Spanish Cups, and one UEFA European Championship, among other titles, with the club. Suarez scored a career-best 59 goals in 53 matches during the 2015–16 season and led all La Liga players in goals that season.
Suarez is the third leading scorer in Barcelona history with 198 goals. Barcelona sold him to Atletico Madrid in September 2020 in efforts to cut costs to mitigate the financial effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
5. Thierry Henry (France)
A World Cup winner with France, Thierry Henry is considered among the best strikers in Premier League history. While his tenure with Barcelona lasted just three seasons, he was among the club’s best players from 2007–10, scoring 35 goals in 80 matches while forging a dominant trio alongside Messi and Samuel Eto’o. He was a key player during one of Barcelona’s most successful periods, winning the treble (La Liga, Copa del Rey, and UEFA Champions League) in 2008–09.
