La Masia presence in 2,000 consecutive games
The Barça youth football system, 'La Masia', never fails. Year after year and game after game it is always present in first team's line up. It comes as no surprise to find out that there has been at least one player from the youth set up on the field in the last 2,000 Barça first team games.
The run began back in 1990 and has been as strong as ever this season with Hansi Flick in charge. All season the team has featured at least one player from La Masia and in the final game of the league campaign at San Mamés against Athletic Club, more than half the team were from the youth set up.
2,000 matches with La Masia...
Over 35 years there has been a La Masia presence on the field in the last 2,000 matches. The run began back on 24 March 1990 with Johan Cruyff in charge of the team. At half time in the game between Barça and Atlético Madrid, Guillermo Amor came on to replace Julio Salinas in what was to become the 'Dream Team'.
16 coaches and three and a half decade later the run continues as La Masia continues to feed the first team from its new home at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper.
Endless talent
Over the years La Masia has produced figures such as goalkeeper Víctor Valdés, defender Carles Puyol and Pau Cubarsí as well as full backs of the quality of Jordi Alba and Balde. Midfielders who have marked a generation include the likes of Sergio Busquets, Xavi Hernández and Guillermo Amor not to mention record breaking forwards Leo Messi and now Lamine Yamal.
La Masia has helped bring countless trophies to the team's cabinet - four straight league titles, a European Cup, a Copa del Rey and three Spanish Super Cups in the 1990s with a Dream Team featuring home grown talent like Guardiola, Amor, Sergi and Ferrer.
Figures such as Víctor Valdés, Carles Puyol, Xavi Hernández, Andrés Iniesta and Leo Messi helped Barça win four more Champions League titles this century along with Sergio Busquets, Piqué and Pedro.
This season's domestic treble would not have been possible without the presence of Iñaki Peña, Cubarsí, Lamine Yamal, Gavi and Marc Casadó.