FC Barcelona: Rating the Top Personalities of La Blaugrana

The recent victories of La Blaugrana in La Liga and the UEFA Champions League served as an inspiration for a slideshow. The slideshow is dedicated to FC Barcelona, the people who are Barca supporters as well as BR readers.

It is an all-inclusive slideshow with ratings of the top personalities from Barca. The ratings range from one to ten with ten being the highest. The basis will be on the field as well as off the field.

The ratings may include experiences in a friendly match that I attended. The slideshow is expected to be full of some surprises for many who will see it.

An invitation is extended to the BR readers to sit back, relax, and enjoy the slideshow. 

1. Lionel Messi

Leo Messi is one of the greatest in Barca and continues to write the history of the club with his goals. Who cannot forget the five goals scored by this living legend in the UEFA Champions League match against Bayer Leverkusen in the beginning of March 2012.

The goals catapulted FC Barcelona into the quarter finals and rejuvenated a club. Messi accomplished the feat of 234 goals while playing for La Blaugrana to the surprise of those who had their doubts.

While Pele commented about Messi, the latter managed to score 35 goals during the current La Liga season. In the process, Messi broke the record set by Ronaldo (from Brazil) during the 1996-1997 season.

Messi may even surpass the 205 appearances in a match set by Philip Cocu when the latter played for Barcelona from 1998 to 2004.

During his time with La Blaugrana, Messi won the Ballon D'Or award three consecutive times. Messi also deserves to be admired for his attitude in favor of other players and the coach.

Messi refused to accept the glory for himself. Instead, he praised Pep Guardiola for his effort as manager of La Blaugrana.

Maybe Pele says that Messi is "not there" but the Barca superstar is going places. Messi deserves a 9.5/10 in this article.

2. Pep Guardiola

Leo Messi praises Pep Guardiola for the efforts of FC Barcelona and it is true. Guardiola became coach of La Blaugrana during the 2008-2009 La Liga season.

Barca has enjoyed another golden era with players such as Messi, Fabregas, and Sanchez. La Blaugrana scored 600 goals during this Guardiola era.

Guardiola is also the recipient of the 2011 Ballon D'Or as Coach of the Year. At one point, Argentina and Chelsea were considered destinations for Guardiola should he decide to leave Barcelona.

The only defect that Guardiola may have is insisting on a one year renewal of his contract with FC Barcelona. The drama that surrounds it has the potential to hurt the club when times are not so good.

No club can thrive when a coach is insisting on a one year renewal. Guardiola receives a 9.5/10 for his efforts as coach, but not for the one year deal.

3. Gerard Pique

Gerard Pique is a personal favorite and it was an honor to see him participate in the friendly match between Barca and Chivas of Guadalajara in 2011. The pages of history are fast forwarded to the match between FC Barcelona and Mallorca.

While rumors circulate concerning a problem between Pique and Pep Guardiola, it appears that it did not affect the Barca vs. Mallorca match. Pique scored the second goal that left Mallorca scoreless during the second half of the match.

It is tempting to think that maybe Pique suffers from bad days just like the rest of us. Pique deserves an 9/10 for his recent effort on the field and the attempt to become more organized in his play.

4. Thiago Alcantara

Thiago Alcantara is one of the stars of FC Barcelona who is able to free kick with precision. The midfielder is also great when it comes to passing the ball.

Thiago has participated in the UEFA Champions League, La Liga, and UEFA Super Cup. The above video could say more than what words can. Thiago Alcantara receives a 9/10 for his effort.

5. Andres Iniesta

Andres Iniesta is another midfielder in La Blaugrana. Iniesta is a versatile and consistent player who studies players before making a move.

Iniesta is the example of what should be a midfielder and has worked with the team. The only defect is that—at least where I live—he does not receive the publicity that is deserved.

Iniesta receives a 9/10 for his effort as a midfielder for La Blaugrana.

6. Ibrahim Afellay

While Ibrahim Afellay has not been active during the 2011-2012 La Liga season, he deserves to be mentioned. Afellay remains a member of FC Barcelona even though he played only three matches during the 2011-2012 La Liga season.

Afellay has been out secondary to a surgical operation to repair the anterior cruciate ligament of his left knee. He is recovering and has undergone light training in February 2012.

While Afellay may be one of the best players, he will not receive a rating during the slideshow. It remains to be seen whether Afellay returns to Barca or is sent to another team.

7. Victor Valdes

Victor Valdes is one of the greatest goal keepers because of his discipline, tenacity and ability to deflect attempted goals. In the year 2007, he did not concede any goals to an opposing team for 466 minutes.

According to ESPN Soccernet, Valdes has 49 saves and 14 clean sheets within 29 matches during the 2011-2012 La Liga season. Valdes deserves a 9.5/10 for his effort as a goal keeper.

8. Cristian Tello

Cristian Tello made history by scoring the two goals in the UEFA Champions League match between FC Barcelona and Bayer Leverkusen. Tello is showing potential even though he is starting and deserves 9.5/10 for his effort in the UCL.

9. Jose Manuel Pinto

Jose Manuel Pinto is another goal keeper in La Blaugrana. He was the goal keeper for the friendly match between FC Barcelona and Chivas of Guadalajara at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Florida last year.

While he is a great goal keeper, he did not participate as much as Victor Valdes in the current 2011-2012 La Liga season. I will give him a 7.5/10 for his effort in Miami, Florida only.

10. Cesc Fabregas and Alexis Sanchez

Cesc Fabregas and Alexis Sanchez signed with La Blaugrana during the 2011 Summer Transfer WIndow. The arrival of the dynamic duo was a major coup during the Pep Guardiola era.

Fabregas was a product of Barca's youth academy, La Masia and who stayed at Arsenal for almost a decade. He returned home and has since left his mark with Barca.

According to ESPN Soccernet, Fabregas has eight assists, nine goals, and 39 shots within 23 matches during the 2011-2012 La Liga season. He is able to show power when assisting in scoring goals.

Fabregas receives a 9/10.

Sanchez was signed by FC Barcelona from Udinese and has made an impression with Barca. According to the Barca website, he is able to take advantage of the opponent's weakness to score.

Sanchez (according to ESPN Soccernet) has three assists, eight goals, and 37 shots within 19 matches. Sanchez is able to go into the goal area and score. His only defect is not sharing the ball but he still has a rating of 9/10.

11. Javier Mascherano

Javier Mascherano is another midfielder from Argentina who is plays for Barca. He played for West Ham and Liverpool before moving to La Blaugrana.

Mascherano also played for Argentina and helped his country win the Gold Medal in the 2004 and 2008 Olympics. He has participated in the UEFA Champions League, La Liga, UEFA Super Cup, and the Spanish Super Cup with Barca.

Mascherano is great when it comes to defense but his range with respect to passing has its limits. While he has not scored goals in the current La Liga season, Mascherano proves himself to be a key part of Barca.

He receives a rating of 9/10.

12. Eric Abidal

Eric Abidal is recognized for his powerful defense during Barca matches. He spent the 2010-2011 season out because of a liver tumor.

Abidal surprised everyone and was able to participate in the UEFA Champions League finals against Manchester United. The result was a win for FC Barcelona but the celebration did not last long.

He is expected to undergo a liver transplant, according to goal.com. He is not going to receive a rating because of his health issues.

It remains to be seen whether he will return to Barca, go to another club or retire.

13. Andreu Fontas

Andreu Fontas is the latest addition to FC Barcelona. Fontas started as part of the Barca Youth A Squad before being promoted to Barca B.

When Eric Abidal started to suffer from health-related problems, Fontas was promoted to the Barca team. It would not be fair to rate him since he is not well known on a personal basis.

Fontas has the potential for Barca and he deserves the best.

14. Sergio Busquets

Sergio Busquets is another product of the FC Barcelona youth system. He is versatile in his ability to play midfield in the center as a forward or the back.

Busquets is solid when it comes to defending the ball from opponents. Pep Guardiola has praised Busquets as a team worker.

The only defect that Busquets has deals with theatrics, which Barca doesn't need. His theatrics in the Barca match against Inter Milan in 2010 resulted in the sending off of Thiago Motta.

According to The Independent, Motta asked UEFA to investigate Busquets and his theatrics in the field. Busquets receives an 8/10 for his great plays and his theatrics, which are not needed.

15. Adriano Correia

According to the FC Barcelona website, Adriano Correia scored three goals within 28 matches in La Liga and the FIFA Club World Cup. Adriano proved himself in the midfield as an attacker in the left and right back.

Adriano has the misfortune of being out secondary to an elongation of one of his leg muscles. He will receive an 8.5/10 based on his abilities in midfield.

16. Jonathan Dos Santos

Jonathan Dos Santos belongs to Barca B (according to the FC Barcelona website). According to ESPN Soccernet, Dos Santos played in La Liga and the UEFA Champions League and is placed as First Team.

Dos Santos does not have a rating since I am not familiar with his play.

17. Maxwell

Maxwell appears as a member of FC Barcelona in the ESPN Soccernet webpage although he is now with Paris Saint-Germain. Maxwell does not appear in the Paris Saint-Germain website published by ESPN Soccernet.

Maxwell was not found in the FC Barcelona webpage as part of the team.

FC Barcelona has a YouTube video of Maxwell during his arrival at Barca in the 2009-2010 La Liga season. Maxwell does not receive a rating as I have not seen him.

ESPN Soccernet may have to review its webpage concerning Maxwell and reconcile it with the Barca site. ESPN Soccernet will receive a rating of no comment secondary to the possible error.

18. Xavi Hernandez and Seydou Keita

I had the honor of seeing Xavi Hernandez and Seydou Keita play in the friendly match between FC Barcelona and Chivas of Guadalajara last year in Miami, Florida. They were the greatest in this match, which was attended by more than 70,000 people.

Xavi is a midfielder who rose within the ranks of FC Barcelona and has been able to defend the ball against opponents. According to ESPN Soccernet, Xavi has six assists, ten goals and 32 shots within 24 matches in the 2011-2012 La Liga season.

Xavi is 32 years of age and is arriving at a crossroads as to his future in football. This is due to the fact that older footballers do not have the same reflexes as those who are beginning their career.

Keita comes from a long line of footballers in Mali and has (according to the FC Barcelona website) a powerful left foot. Keita's left foot has the potential to score goals from a long distance.

According to ESPN Soccernet, Keita scored one goal within 20 matches during the 2011-2012 La Liga season. The only defect for Keita is that he is 32 years of age which is a time for footballers to begin thinking of another future.

Xavi and Keita each receive a rating of 9/10.

19. Pedro

Pedro has been able to score goals, such as the one against Real Madrid (two months ago) assisted by Lionel Messi in La Liga. He has been able to score three goals in two separate UEFA Champions League matches against BATE Borisov last Autumn.

Pedro also scored one goal against  Valencia in La Liga. He also scored against AC Milan in a separate UEFA Champions League match.

In spite of the goals, there was a need for a second opinion concerning Pedro's performance.A decision was made to check out Pedro's record during the current season and all is not well.

Xoel Cardenas (fellow BR writer) wrote about Pedro not relying on his gut feeling during a match as well as being unable to score.

The conclusion is that Pedro receives a rating of 8/10 for his current performance. This rating is left open to discussion but it is an attempt to be flexible.

20. Isaac Cuenca

Isaac Cuenca is a new addition to La Blaugrana and has produced results. According to ESPN Soccernet, Cuenca prepared three goals so that Barca could defeat BATE Borisov during the UEFA Champions League.

During the 2011 La Liga season, he scored one goal, one assist and 14 shots within 13 matches. Cuenca scored two goals against Hospitalet in the 2011 Copa Del Rey.

Cuenca is seen as a new generation of La Blaugrana players and deserves a rating of 9/10.

21. Carles Puyol

Carles Puyol is a Barca defender who is passionate and committed to his club. Puyol is able to reinforce the defense for Barca with great results in La Liga, UEFA Champions League and La Copa Del Rey.

While Puyol is a great defender, he is 33 years old and his body is not as quick as those who begin their career in football. The time is almost near when Puyol will either retire or sign with another club.

Puyol deserves the rating of 9/10.

22. David Villa

David Villa is a goal scorer who could be strong and lethal in his form of play. He is able to score directly and helps with assists.

According to ESPN Soccernet, Villa scored five goals, one assist and 35 shots within 15 matches. David Villa had the misfortune to break his leg during the Club World Cup semifinal against Al Saad last December.

It is hoped that Villa can recover soon and resume play with Barca. Our heart and soul is with him. Villa deserves a rating of 9.5/10 for his effort before his accident.

23. Dani Alves

Dany Alves is able score with precision, as seen in the above video. He scored for Barca in the match against Real Madrid.

According to ESPN Soccernet, Alves scored one goal (for La Liga) with ten assists, 29 shots, and 26 games. Alves is also a perfectionist when it comes to playing for Barca.

Alves deserves a 9.5/10

24. Shakira

Real Madrid has Iker Casillas and Sara Carbonero, FC Barcelona has Gerard Pique and Shakira. The romance between the two brought benefits to FC Barcelona and the world.

When Barca toured Miami last year, Shakira announced the alliance of her Pies Decsalzo Foundation with FC Barcelona. The purpose of the alliance is to assist in the construction of areas for sports and recreation in the USA and Colombia for children who are at a disadvantage because of lack of opportunities.

Shakira is one of the few WAGs with a heart and she receives a rating of 10/10. For those who ask why should a WAG receive more than an athlete, the reason is the humanitarian gesture.

FC Barcelona also receives a 10/10 as an organization involved in humanitarian gestures such as the fight to eradicate polio. FC Barcelona is in alliance with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in the fight against polio.

Conclusion

The following slideshow of the Barca personalities was in preparation for the upcoming UEFA Champions League match against AC Milan. The slideshow and the ratings are based on personal opinion from what has been seen on TV, surfing the net, visiting the Barca supporters and watching a friendly match.

The slideshow is based on a love for Barca, which is present, although not perfect. It is hoped that you enjoyed it in as much as I enjoyed making it.