Transcending borders and generations

Barcelona’s formidable trophy-haul, across their 126 years of existence, is proof enough if their grandeur. The Catalan giant is one of only a handful of football clubs to have won over a century of trophies, domestically and in continental competition.

Yet silverware alone does not properly explain the elevated place in which they reside within the footballing universe. Success, after all, is merely the end result of who they are, and what they have constructed since first being founded by a group of Swiss, Catalan, German, and English footballers in 1899.

Of perhaps more meaningful heft, the club is an important symbol of Catalanism and an immense source of pride for the Catalonian public, its 150,000+ members making it the largest example globally of a fan-owned sporting institution. Moreover, the Blaugrana’s renowned association with attractive, adventurous fare transcends borders and generations and has been hard-earned, grounded in the ‘total football’ methodology they espoused in the nineteen-seventies.

For this reason, legendary manager Rinus Michels, and legendary player-turned-manager Johan Cruyff, remain totemic figures in the Barcelona story, their mentor Pep Guardiola too.

That is not to say, however, that Spanish dominance only began from that era on. Between 1929 and 1960, the club won eight of its 29 La Liga titles.

Ballon d’Or Nobility

Similarly, Barcelona’s Ballon d’or heritage far precedes the arrivals of Michels and Cruyff from Ajax.

In the inaugural years of Ballon d’Or the great Luis Suárez became its fifth champion, nominated in three further years. There were notable nominations too for Joan Segarra and the feared Hungarian frontman, László Kubala.

Admittedly though, from the early-Seventies on, there was a distinct spike in players shortlisted for the most illustrious of all individual honours while exhibiting their brilliance at Camp Nou.

The signing of Johan Cruyff in 1973 meant that the Blaugrana had a second champion, the Dutch maestro winning the award again in 1974 for good measure. His compatriot Johan Neeskens was also a multiple nominee during this period.

Having established themselves as a significant presence in the Ballon d’Or reckoning, Barcelona’s numbers then grew and grew. In four consecutive years in the early-Nineties, the club had three nominations apiece, the latter year resulting in another champion, Hristo Stoichkov.

Later still, between 1997 and 2005, the club produced four more champions, legends all, three of whom originating from Brazil.

Interestingly, both Ronaldo Nazário and Luis Figo received the golden ball while employed by someone else, having departed Camp Nou that summer. Rivaldo and Ronaldinho were awarded theirs while still venerated as Barca superstars.

Which brings us to the Messi years, an unprecedented period of Ballon d’Or dominance we are very unlikely to see repeated anytime soon.

Not only did the little genius win six of his eight awards at Barcelona but – demonstrating their majesty under Pep Guardiola – in 2010 they clean-swept the top three places, with Andrés Iniesta finishing runner-up and Xavi Hernández coming third.

In the men’s category alone, Barcelona have produced 139 nominations and 14 winners in the competition’s long and esteemed history.

The legacy continues 

That impressive pedigree extends to this year’s ceremony that will be well attended by Barcelona’s stand-out performers across 2025/26.

All told, the club boasts 19 nominations. That’s 17.2% of the total, a remarkable percentage.

In the men’s category, Ferran Torres receives his first nomination, on the shortlist alongside his colleagues Pau Cubarsi and Lamine Yamal. The gifted teenagers are additionally in contention for the Men’s Young Talent merit, an award Yamal has won for the last two years running.

Cubarsi was widely regarded to be the best performing defender at last summer’s World Cup while Torres, of course, scored the winner in the final for Spain.

For his outstanding displays in nets, that helped Barcelona secure a 29th La Liga title last term, Joan Garcia is in receipt of his first nomination in the Men’s Gaolkeeper merit while Cata Coll has been shortlisted for the Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year Ballon d’Or after keeping 11 clean sheets last season despite missing some matches to injury.

The Spanish international is also in the running for the Women’s Ballon d’Or, along with seven of her team-mates who ensured that Barcelona Femeni lost just one fixture in 49 in 2025/26.

The resulting clean sweep of honours has put Blaugranes in the reckoning in the Women’s Club of the Year category.

Finally, demonstrating that the future of the women’s side is in safe hands, Vicky Lopez and Clara Serrajordi have been nominated in the Women’s Young Talent of the Year category.

Barca’s eight nominees for Women’s Ballon d’Or 2026

  • Esmee Brugts

  • Cata Coll

  • Caroline Graham Hansen

  • Patri Guijarro

  • Mapi León

  • Ewa Pajor

  • Claudia Pina

  • Alexia Putellas