FC Barcelona is most certainly “Més que un Club” – it’s one of the few football giants that have virtually won every trophy that can be won. One of the reasons for the club’s success is the La Masia – FC Barcelona’s youth academy.
The youth academy, which is popularly known as ‘La Masia’ has been one of the key aspects of the club’s success for decades.
It was first established in 1979, in a place that was originally a farmhouse that was built in 1702. The complex was transformed into a residence for young players who come outside Barcelona to provide them with housing and training facilities.
Over the years, the La Masia has produced many football legends (including Lionel Messi himself) who have made major contributions not only to Barcelona – but to the football world as a whole.
There are new rising stars that have been bred through FC Barcelona’s La Masia and have already proven themselves as starts, so we’ll list the top 5 and see how the youth academy continues to produce young talents through its training programs and focus on technical and tactical development.
Marc Casadó – A Midfield Dynamo
Marc Casadó is one of the most flexible midfielders to come out recently of Barcelona’s youth academy – with an all-around versatility that resembles the variety of online roulette sites for South Africa. He has also shown that he can be a big leader, and he has shown potential in the DMF position, for which he has been compared to Barcelona star Sergio Busquets due to his football intelligence and positional awareness. He hasn’t become a part of Barcelona’s senior squad yet, but the UEFA Youth League has ranked Marc as one of the biggest football prospects for the future decade.
Guille Fernández – The New Iniesta?
The La Masia is famous for breeding outstanding midfielders (think Xavi and Iniesta), and another promising midfielder from the FC Barcelona youth program is Guille Fernández.
The 16-year-old is still waiting for his senior team debut, but he has already been recognized for his technical skills and playmaking abilities. Many compare him with Iniesta, but he’s body composition makes him more physically dominant, and he has amazing ball control. He has put the spotlight on himself with his performances for the Barcelona B team and is widely considered a future prospect for Barcelona’s A-team midfield.
The academy has always focused on producing well-rounded players that, besides the skills on the pitch, have a deep understanding of the game – and Fernández is a perfect example of that philosophy.
Pau Cubarsí – The Defensive Rock
Despite still being in his teenage age, Pau Cubarsi already has 40+ appearances for the Barcelona senior team (at the time of writing). The central defender, born in 2007, has been widely considered as one of the best young defenders. He also comes from the La Masia, and some of his strengths include his ability to read the game and make crucial interceptions.
His development shows that La Masia also focuses on producing defenders who are not only physically strong and capable but also able to read the game in advance. This is what the modern-day defender is all about, and the management and coaching team at the youth academy had recognized this trend a long time ago. So, all the defenders who come from La Masia are well-prepared for what modern football requires of them.
Lamine Yamal – Already a Winner
If you haven’t lived under a rock in the past few years, you’ve probably heard about Lamine Yamal. He is among the most popular young football stars worldwide, and he won the gold medal with the Spanish team in the Euro 2024 tournament. He is one of the biggest young stars to come out from the Barcelona youth academy, and he made his debut for the Barcelona A-team aged 15, and is now one of Hansi Flick’s key components.
Vicky López – A Major Talent in Women’s Football
Did you know that there is also a FC Barcelona Women’s youth academy? The La Masia is widely considered to be one of the best youth women’s football academies in the world.
Among the biggest women’s football talents to come out recently is Vicky López. Vicky is considered a ‘super talent’ and has played an important role in Barcelona’s women’s team’s recent successes, especially after scoring several goals and assists in a number of important matches.
López, who is a Madrid native and joined Barcelona B in 2022, managed to rise through the ranks in just a few years and is now a major part of Barcelona’s A team. This only shows the academy’s dedication to fostering football talent at all levels of the sport.
