Barcelona celebrated their 121st anniversary as a club in the best way possible, defeating Osasuna 4-0 at home. Goals from Lionel Messi, Antoine Griezmann and Philippe Coutinho put Barcelona ahead. Martin Braithwaite also managed to score his first goal for Barcelona at Camp Nou.
While the club might not be at the level that they were in recent years, the Blaugrana heritage goes back a century, and they have a lot to be proud of.
Some of the best players in the world have had the honour of representing Barcelona, with the likes of Ronaldinho, Thierry Henry, Carles Puyol, Diego Maradona, Iniesta, Xavi and Leo Messi all donning the Blaugrana shirt throughout their careers.
Barcelona are one of the most successful clubs in the world. They have won the Champions League trophy on 5 different occasions, reaching the peak of European competition most recently in 2015.
Behind Real Madrid, they are the most successful club in Spain, having won the La Liga trophy 26 times. By the numbers, their fate in the League Cup has been more successful, winning the Spanish Cup 30 times.
Barcelona have also managed to win the Spanish Super Cup 13 times, the UEFA Super Cup 5 times and the FIFA Club World Club thrice.
When the 2010s began, Barcelona were on a level of their own, with former player Pep Guardiola taking the reigns at the club he once played for. Guardiola’s Tiki Taka philosophy proved to be absolutely revolutionary at the club. The advent of a plethora of talented La Masia graduates also strengthened the club.
However, by the end of the last decade, Barcelona became a shadow of their former selves. Multiple shameful exits from the Champions League in successive seasons have tarnished their reputation.
Add to the mix the things that have taken place off the pitch, such as the massive hate against Josep Maria Bartomeu, the financial mismanagement, and the Messi transfer saga that dominated headlines this summer, and it becomes clear that this is the most tumultuous time in Barcelona’s history.
For all the glorious years gone by, fans will be hoping that the club can reach the heights that were once normal for them on a regular basis.
