Culé pride! Nine Barça players, among the 100 best athletes of the century

A total of 14 footballers were included by the American chain 'ESPN' between the 100 better sportsmen of the 21st century. Leo Messi is the only that appears in the top 10, occupying the third place of a ranking that lead the swimmer Michael Phelps and the tennist Serena Williams, both Americans. The most striking is that the majority of footballers selected by 'ESPN' went through the FC Barcelona (nine).

After 'The Flea' appear Thierry Henry in the place 49. The French was in the Barça between 2007 and 2010, being a key piece in the team that won the triplete in 2009 with Pep Guardiola in the bench. A stair further down is the current better player of the planet, Aitana Bonmatí (49), the one who to his 26 years already has won it practically everything with the Barça and with the Spanish Selection.

Xavi, Iniesta and others 'cracks' of the Barça taken in account by 'ESPN'

A bit further down in the ranking is another of the stars of the Barça Femení, Alexia Putellas. The winner of the Balloon of Gold in two consecutive years (2021 and 2022) appears in the place 56 in spite of the injuries that have pursued him in the two last seasons. By his part, Andrés Iniesta was planted in the stair number 70, whereas Xavi Hernández situates five places further down (75). Both led the centre of the field of the Barcelona golden era and of The Red, winning it absolutely everything between 2006 and 2015.

The others three ex Barcelona players in the 'top 100' of 'ESPN' are Ronaldo Nazario (87), Ronaldinho Gaúcho (94) and Zlatan Ibrahimovic (95). 'Ronnie' and 'Ibra' only contested a season with the Barcelona group, leaving footprint with his characteristic skill goleadora. By his part, 'Dinho' led to the Barça that won his second 'orejona' in Paris in 2006, being the main mentor of Leo Messi during the era of Frank Rijkaard. After the rosarino, the player that more near appears of the top have is Christian Ronaldo (13). Others 'cracks' of the Real Madrid taken into account are Zinedine Zidane (50), Luka Modric (55) and his last big signing, Kylian Mbappé (65).