Ranking Barcelona’s club captains since 1997 from worst to best

The Catalan giants have enjoyed a regular stream of trophies and some fantastic football to boot. Some claim that the 2009-12 team, managed by Pep Guardiola, is the greatest of all time.

Every great team needs great leaders and Barca have been blessed in this regard as some of the leading players of their generation have worn the armband at the Camp Nou.

We’ve ranked the eight captains of Barcelona since 1997 from worst to best.

Barjuan, currently coach of Barcelona B, was captain for the 2001-02 season but only made 25 appearances in all competitions.

The right-back had been at the Camp Nou for almost a decade when he was given the armband but his leadership couldn’t save Barca from a disappointing 4th place finish in La Liga and defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League semis.

Louis van Gaal sold Barjuan to Atletico in the summer of 2002 and appointed Luis Enrique as captain in his place.

He was a solid pro, but Barjuan doesn’t really compare to the other names on this list.

Great player, and one of the leading proponents of football’s dark arts, but Busquets has only captained Barcelona since last summer and while they rallied to finish a respectable 2nd place in 2021-22, it wasn’t a season to remember.

He may move up the list if things improve under Xavi’s management but, for now, the midfielder hardly warrants a higher placing than this.

Barcelona in the early 2000s weren’t the juggernaut they’d soon become.

Real Madrid were the league’s most glamourous team, Rafa Benitez was working wonders at Valencia, and northern Spain was well represented in Europe by Celta Vigo, Deportivo La Coruna and Real Sociedad.

And Barca started the 2002-03 season shockingly, finding themselves hovering above the relegation zone