Lamine Yamal has unveiled his ideal starting XI featuring the best players in FC Barcelona’s 125-year history. In a video shared by the club’s official account on social media platform X, the young Spanish international revealed his favorites, offering insight into each selection with admiration and confidence.

Legends Who Left Their Mark at Barça

Starting with the goalkeeper, Yamal chose Víctor Valdés as the greatest shot-stopper in club history:

“In my mind, he’s the most iconic goalkeeper we’ve had. He’s the one I saw,” he explained, referencing his own generation. At just 17 years old, his perspective naturally reflects more recent history.

In defense, he went with an unusual three-man backline, not common in Barça’s tactical history. His picks: Gerard Piqué, Carles Puyol, and Javier Mascherano—a blend of leadership, toughness, and grit. Puyol and Piqué were the core of the historic sextuple-winning team, while ‘El Jefecito’ left the club with 19 trophies, including two Champions League titles.

A Midfield of Pure Gold

When it came to the midfield, Yamal had no hesitation: Xavi Hernández, Andrés Iniesta, and Sergio Busquets. To add even more flair, he included Ronaldinho as a central attacking midfielder:

“I already know who I’m putting up front, and there’s no space left,” he joked, justifying the inclusion of the Brazilian magician.

A Fearsome Front Three

In attack, there were no real surprises. First on the list was Lionel Messi:

“Obviously,” Lamine said after all, you can't leave out the greatest player in club history.

Joining Messi in the frontline is Neymar, Yamal’s childhood idol, with whom he recently spent time during the summer break. To complete the trio, he picked Luis Suárez:

“For me, Luis Suárez is top!”

And so, the legendary MSN trio Messi, Suárez, Neymar was fully represented in Yamal’s all-time Barça XI.

Notable Omissions

With so many legends having worn the Barça shirt, narrowing it down to just eleven players is no easy task. Some legendary figures were not included, such as Johan Cruyff and Diego Armando Maradona, both giants of the sport. Though they played in different eras, their influence was massive. Cruyff laid the foundation for Barça’s possession-based DNA, while Maradona, despite a short stint between 1982 and 1984, dazzled fans with his unique brilliance.

Ronaldo Nazário, considered by many the greatest striker in history, was also left out. His brief but electrifying season at Barça in 1996–97 wasn’t enough to earn a spot in Yamal’s XI—understandable, considering the youngster wasn’t even born at the time.

Another surprise exclusion was Dani Alves, arguably the best right-back in football history and a key piece of Barça’s golden era. His absence may be due to Yamal’s decision to include Ronaldinho in the midfield, which limited the room for traditional full-backs.

Will Lamine Make That All-Time XI One Day?

Without a doubt, Lamine Yamal selected a lineup filled with Barça legends. While many greats didn’t make the cut, one big question remains:
Will Lamine one day earn a place in the club’s all-time best XI?
All signs point to yes. With his talent, maturity, and charisma, the young winger is well on his way to becoming a true Barcelona legend.