The most famous (and unknown) number 10s in the history of Barça

BarcelonaThroughout Barça's history, the number 10 shirt has passed through several hands. after Ansu Fati's departure from MonacoThe number attributed to the best player in the squad goes to Lamine Yamal. Another gift to celebrate the Rocafonda winger's 18th birthday.

Luis Suárez, a golden 10

Luis Suárez Miramontes is one of the first recognized players to wear the Barça number 10. Until a few months ago, he was the only Spanish player to win the Ballon d'Or, a title he shares with Rodri (Manchester City). He wore it in the 1950s, when he shared a dressing room with Kubala, who also wore the number 10 on occasion.

Pep Guardiola, the number 10 of Wembley

In a season where the numbers were still not fixed, fate made it so that Pep Guardiola was the one in charge of wearing the number 10 in the 1992 Wembley final. A coincidence that occurred due to the absences of Witschge (injured) and Guillermo Amor (accumulation of yellow cards), the two who had previously occupied the shirt.

Ángel Cuéllar, the first permanent number 10

With the mandatory establishment of fixed numbers (1995-96), Barça's first number 10 was Ángel Cuéllar, a young striker recently arrived from Real Betis. A ruptured anterior cruciate ligament on the first matchday of the José Zorrilla match left Cuéllar out of action until February and prevented him from succeeding at the Camp Nou. Gheorghe Hagi had been the number 10 the previous year.

Maradona, a non-sporting number 10

Maradona's time at Barça was marked by off-field issues. He joined the club from Boca Juniors in Argentina, but hepatitis and a serious injury following a harsh tackle by Andoni Goikoetxea (Athletic Club) kept him off the pitch.

Romário, the number 10 who didn't want to be a star

Romário had all the makings of a success at Barça. 30 goals in 33 league games in his first season suggested he was a major star, even more so after winning the World Cup with Brazil in 1994, where he was voted the tournament's best player. That summer, however, he didn't return to training when called up and ended up packing his bags in January.

Rivaldo, a 10-foot-10 bicycle kick

137 goals, but one stands out above the rest. With the number 10 on his belt, on June 17, 2001, he scored a memorable goal. Barça needed to beat Valencia at Camp Nou on the final matchday to qualify for the Champions League. With the score at 2-2 (a brace from Rivaldo), the Brazilian reappeared in the 87th minute to secure the victory with a beautiful overhead kick from the edge of the box.

Ronaldinho, the applauded number 10

He was the star of Frank Rijkaard's team that won the Champions League again in 2006. Leo Messi's predecessor as number 10, the image of the Santiago Bernabéu applauding him in 2005 after a double in the 3-0 victory over Real Madrid stands out.

Leo Messi, the quintessential 10

Camp Nou enjoyed Leo Messi wearing the number 10 for thirteen seasons. The Argentine star took advantage of Ronaldinho's departure in July 2008 to swap the number 19 (which Lamine Yamal wore this season) for the number 10. The Rosario native was key to achieving a historic six-team record under Pep Guardiola, with 38 goals in 51 matches, and is the most successful number 10.

Ansu Fati, a 10 marked by injuries

Bad luck has plagued Ansu Fati throughout his time at Barça. After making his debut in 2019, an unfortunate incident with Aïssa Mandi (Real Betis) caused a tear in the medial meniscus of his left knee. Several associated injuries have prevented the forward from enjoying the necessary consistency. With the departure of Leo Messi, Barça gave him the number 10 with the aim of restoring the fans' enthusiasm. He has never recovered his best form.

Lamine Yamal, a 10 for opening the new Camp Nou

The winger from Rocafonda has yet to score at the Camp Nou. He has only played seven minutes, making his debut on April 29, 2023, under Xavi Hernández. 106 matches after making his debut for Barça, Lamine Yamal is taking on the responsibility of wearing the number of the team's best player at just 18 years old. It took Messi 110 matches and he took over at 21, three years older than the current Barça number 10. His era begins.