Power Ranking Every Player for Barcelona in 2016/17 Liga Season
Barcelona's season isn't quite over and done with yet, with a Copa del Rey final against Alaves still ahead, but such are the standards and expectations at the Camp Nou that the 2016/17 season will be tinged with disappointment.
A second-place finish in La Liga to rivals Real Madrid, and a UEFA Champions League quarter-final exit at the hands of Juventus, means only the Spanish Super Cup and potentially the Copa del Rey trophies will be added to the vast silverware collection in Luis Enrique's final season in charge.
Despite that relative lack of success in 2016/17—which would be a pretty good campaign for most clubs elsewhere—there have been plenty of highlights, with a host of players performing well on an individual level and some tremendous matches to look back on.
Here we rank every player who has featured for the first team this season, ordered by their overall contribution to the team against each other but also factoring in what they have proved capable of in previous years.
=23. Fringe Players and the Departed
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Eight players appeared for Barcelona this season without making a meaningful contribution, and are grouped together here.
Claudio Bravo: Played the first league game of the season and both legs of the Super Cup win, then he was sold to Manchester City.
Marlon: After not being eligible to play initially, finally featured in the last two games of the league season.
Munir: Started one and came off the bench twice before his move to Valencia in August, scoring once.
Sergi Samper: One sub appearance before leaving on loan to Granada.
Borja Lopez: 23-year-old B team centre-back, played once in the Copa del Rey.
Alex Carbonell: 19-year-old midfielder of some promise who also played once in the Copa.
Marc Cardona: Free-scoring B team forward, aged 21, who came off the bench in the Copa.
Nili: 23-year-old full-back, appeared off the bench in the Copa once.
22. Carles Alena
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That Carles Alena is even stood apart from the rest of the youngsters in this ranking shows how much of an impression he has made.
A regular on the bench in the second half of the season, he has enjoyed sporadic cameos in midfield as a sub and scored on his start in the Copa del Rey, highlighting his growth and potential to become one of the next players to break through.
He totalled just over 100 minutes, not a huge volume, but 14 occasions on the bench being unused in La Liga and Europe indicates just how confident Lucho was in the 19-year-old if needed.
21. Jeremy Mathieu
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It's fair to say that a 33-year-old Jeremy Mathieu is largely finished as an elite defender, and his appearances for Barcelona this season were erratic at best but lumbering and painful to watch at worst.
His physical prowess was always one of his attributes, but without regular game time and advancing age, the mobility and agility he needs hasn't been prevalent and his style of defending has been left exposed at times by the changing tactics of the team.
Probably his final campaign at the Camp Nou, in which he featured 16 times.
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20. Aleix Vidal
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2016/17 was a complete roller-coaster of a season for Aleix Vidal, whose future looks uncertain.
The 27-year-old was massively out of favour in the first half of the season, playing just once in La Liga in 2016, but he suddenly came from nowhere to enjoy an extended run at right-back early in the new year, scoring two goals and notching two assists in five games.
That mini-run was ended by a season-ending ankle injury, meaning he played under 1,000 minutes all told.
With a new manager due in this summer, perhaps he'll get the chance to start afresh—or perhaps Barca will just cut their losses after a largely unimpressive two years.
19. Paco Alcacer
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Whoever Barcelona signed last summer as the fourth forward, replacing Munir and Sandro, was always going to have a difficult job.
They had to replace any one of the main front three, score goals and play well, but also be content with plenty of bench time. Suffice to say, Paco Alcacer never looked like the ideal fit, and he took an awfully long time to come to terms with his role.
The ex-Valencia forward only played three times in Europe, didn't score in La Liga until February and most of his goals came against the fodder of La Liga: Sporting Gijon, Granada and Osasuna, with just one of importance coming against Real Sociedad.
More is needed from him.
18. Andre Gomes
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Alcacer is saved from being Barca's worst signing of the summer, however, by Andre Gomes.
The midfielder—also arriving from Valencia—was more expensive, handed far more game time and played a prominent role in the side, but he was hugely disappointing for the vast majority of the campaign.
Indeed, he only ranks a place above Alcacer due to a slight upturn in effectiveness in the final third toward the end of the campaign, and the fact he played a bigger role in the starting XI, featuring in 30 of 38 La Liga games in total.
Gomes managed a single assist in league play, his methodical approach too often slowed the game for Barca and he has a lot of work to do to fit in next term.
17. Jasper Cillessen
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Back-up goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen wasn't handed too many opportunities to impress, with most of his 10 games for 2016/17—assuming he starts in goal in the final—coming in the Copa del Rey.
Even so, in the games he played in, he did nothing wrong.
His handling has been assured, his distribution has been excellent and he brings plenty of control and calmness to the back line.
16. Denis Suarez
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A mixed season for Denis Suarez, who started the campaign featuring heavily in La Liga, attempting to win a place as one of the midfield interiors and showing the creative edge to his game that made him a success at Villarreal last term.
The need to be consistent is of paramount importance at Barca, though, and the 23-year-old struggled with that expectation eventually and lost his place for much of 2017.
Suarez is a good squad player, and he shouldn't have concerns over not being involved next season, but he looks a rung or two below the elite level needed to be a first-XI starter.
15. Sergi Roberto
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Sergi Roberto has seen a lot of criticism aimed his way this season, some of it justified and some of it ridiculous.
Taking over at right-back from Dani Alves was never going to be easy, but importantly, Sergi Roberto was never going to do it in the exact same style, either. Barcelona didn't replicate Alves' traits elsewhere—the surging runs, accurate delivery, link-up with Lionel Messi—and so when the team fell short, it was the Spaniard who took much of the blame.
Individual errors in defence didn't help his cause, but Sergi Roberto nonetheless had two particularly good runs of form and a moment he'll never forget: the last-ditch winner against Paris Saint-Germain, capping an incredible comeback in the Champions League.
14. Lucas Digne
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While Gomes and Alcacer might have struggled, left-back Lucas Digne has done pretty much everything he could to be a success in his debut season.
Two factors go against him: he's up against one of the most highly rated left-backs in world football for game time, and Luis Enrique's tactical switches don't always favour him.
Even so, Digne proved a good addition thanks to his defensive acumen, willingness to overlap and replicate Alba's thrusting runs down the flank, and decent delivery from wide. Never a regular, but rarely a let-down.
13. Arda Turan
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Much like Denis Suarez, Arda Turan had a campaign of two halves: an excellent player and important figure in 2016; a forgotten and sidelined extra in 2017.
In a season where he scored or assisted at a rate of one every 92 minutes, it's worth noting that by the end of December, the Turkish attacker had 11 goals and seven assists; by the end of the campaign, it was 13 and seven, such was his drop-off.
Without that great start, Barca wouldn't have been in the title fight and might have struggled in the Super Copa—it was he who replaced Neymar on the left of the attack to such good effect, and continued his goals from midfield thereafter.
If he stays at Barca next season, the challenge must be to replicate that effectiveness all year long, but his anonymity in 2017 shouldn't mean his excellence in 2016 is overlooked or ignored.
12. Jordi Alba
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Usually a candidate for a top six or eight player for Barca, Jordi Alba has had his most difficult campaign since arriving from Valencia.
A hamstring injury, some rotation with Digne and the shift to a 3-4-3 have all meant he has missed out on his usual guaranteed starting berth, and despite still playing 38 times in all competitions, the overall effectiveness and incision hasn't been there throughout.
Alba was so frustrated at not being in the XI in the second half of the season that he was linked with a move away, per Metro, but it's still more likely he remains at the Camp Nou next term.
11. Rafinha
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One of several players to step up when Barcelona needed someone this season, Rafinha had a largely excellent campaign...other than his ongoing injuries.
The Olympic Games and one or two niggles made it a stop-start beginning of the campaign, but he was impressive when called upon, scored and created goals and was excellent both from a wide role and centrally.
Problems with his Achilles, a broken nose and a season-ending knee injury have all hampered him from making any particular role his own though, and the current meniscus problem required an operation to leave him out until the start of 17/18.
Rafinha has lots of talent, enough to be a key player, but part of that is fitness, which is his biggest obstacle to overcome.
10. Andres Iniesta
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By his own enormous standards, 2016/17 was difficult for Andres Iniesta, affected by age and injury.
Now 33, he's carefully utilised in the biggest games and rested or replaced in others, meaning he played just over 2,000 minutes all told this term—less game time than the likes of Gomes, Sergi Roberto or Jordi Alba.
When fit, the captain was clearly still head and shoulders above many of his team-mates in terms of ability to make the team tick, but he missed a big chunk in the middle of the season and didn't always find his most mesmerising rhythm thereafter.
Iniesta still has a role to play, but Barcelona need another reliable superstar in midfield to take up the slack.
9. Javier Mascherano
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Javier Mascherano remains as solid and dependable as ever for Barcelona.
Often the sweeper for mistakes in midfield, he does the defensive work required without fuss, but from time to time can be pivotal with his organisational work, his recovery pace and willingness to put his body on the line.
There have been a few mistakes, of course, he's not perfect, but put Mascherano in the XI and Barca know what they're getting, and more often than not, he aids victory with his work from deep.
Oh, and he finally scored a goal after more than 300 games!
8. Ivan Rakitic
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One of three players to hit the 50-appearance mark for the season for Barcelona, Ivan Rakitic signed a new deal earlier in the year to highlight his continued importance to the team—despite a small period of poor form and being left out of the XI.
The middle third of the campaign saw the Croatian struggle with his game, not impacting in the final third and not fitting well in the 3-4-3 altered system, but he bounced back strongly.
In the final third, he was one of Barca's best players, creating and scoring important goals, and his drive from deep and ability to switch play will be important in helping the new incoming coach implement a different style of play next season.
7. Samuel Umtiti
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An absolute rock at the back, Samuel Umtiti was Barca's best signing of last summer and has quickly made himself a fan favourite.
Equal parts composure and aggression, he's superb on the ball and has no trouble passing out in the Barca style, but he will be rugged, dominant and committed whenever needed in defensive situations.
Faster than his defensive team-mates, younger than his main centre-back competition and already showing signs of becoming one of the best in La Liga, Umtiti has a big Barcelona future ahead of him.
6. Gerard Pique
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Just edging out Umtiti for the best defensive player, it's Gerard Pique.
There's not much to choose between them, in fairness, but Pique brings the elite quality required in reading the game, has had a bigger impact in attack and remains a staple of the team whether in a back four or back three system.
Now 30 years of age, he should be taking on more responsibility than ever in the coming seasons and there are signs of that in his game, but Pique can still go on another level by remaining more focused in his defensive work and taking over Mascherano's organisational leadership.
5. Luis Suarez
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Into the top five, Luis Suarez hasn't quite managed to keep pace with his ridiculous scoring season of 15/16, but 37 in all competitions is nonetheless impressive.
Two factors go against Suarez in ranking him any higher: He's scored just three goals in Europe, two of which came in the opening group game, and missed a host of chances in matches where Barca were struggling to find the back of the net and where his usual clinical edge may have made the difference of a couple of points in the title race.
He's as hard-working as ever, still a big foil for his two sidekicks in attack and the predatory finisher Barca need.
4. Sergio Busquets
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Sergio Busquets has long been one of Barcelona's most important players, and it's notable that when he had a big dip in form just after the start of the season, the team lost fluidity, struggled to win with ease and lost early ground in the title race.
In the new year, however, he has gradually worked his way back toward his best form and didn't miss a single minute of Liga action in the final dozen game weeks, with his control of matches and ability to make Barca play better hugely evident in that run.
Never was his importance to the side more demonstrated than when he was out suspended against Juventus, who ran riot.
Occasionally the captain this term in Iniesta's absence, Busquets being on top form is critical to Barcelona's success.
3. Marc-Andre ter Stegen
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Having won the battle to be the No. 1 and seeing Claudio Bravo leave the Camp Nou, Marc-Andre ter Stegen needed a big season to show the decision was the right one—and he has done that.
The German stopper has been key this term in ensuing the team weren't even further adrift of Real Madrid in the title fight, making save after save against low-key opponents as the team struggled defensively and after Luis Enrique's tactical switches.
Yes, there were mistakes—as there are with every top defender and goalkeeper around Europe—but the overriding influence of Ter Stegen this term has been enormously positive.
He's No. 1 on merit, and rarely have any of the defeats this season been anything to do with his performance.
2. Neymar
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In an odd turn of events, as Neymar's performance levels have increased this season, his goalscoring has gone down, with his 19 goals set to be his lowest haul since 2013/14, his debut campaign at the Camp Nou.
Goals aside—which he should have netted far more of, given the chances he had—the Brazilian has been unstoppable at times, the forceful catalyst of the Barcelona attack who has made it his mission to take charge and influence games in imperious style.
Aggressive dribbling, selfless creating of chances and the ability to occupy several defenders at once, Neymar has come to the fore in the biggest of games for Barca in 16/17.
The comeback against Paris Saint-Germain was his doing, he was superb in the win over Manchester City, he tormented Atletico and from February to May managed eight goals and eight assists in just 14 La Liga games.
A big season—now he needs to rediscover that ability to score 25 to 30 goals, too.
1. Lionel Messi
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For a period this season, Neymar was better than Lionel Messi. In 2017, though, nobody has.
Often bearing the captain's armband in Iniesta's absence, the No. 10 has rediscovered his aggressive running, deadly finishing and relentless capacity to not just win games and beat teams, but destroy them.
In his final 12 games of the league season, Messi netted a brace on eight occasions. He averaged a goal every 77 minutes over the entire La Liga campaign, despite not scoring a hat-trick at all, and will once again end the season scoring more goals than games played across all competitions.
There was a definite down-time period for Messi early on, in league play at least, but that was well consigned to the past even before Christmas and he either scored or assisted in every league match except two from 10 December to May 6, a phenomenal act of consistency and impact.
Even Messi hasn't been able to lead Barcelona to another league title this season, but he has still been the most important, the best and most prolific in the team, and his legend continues to grow.
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