FC Barcelona facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Barcelona

Full name	Futbol Club Barcelona
Nickname(s)	Barça or the Blaugrana (team) Culers or Barcelonistes (supporters) Blaugranes or Azulgranas (supporters)
Founded	29 November 1899; 126 years ago (1899-11-29) (as Foot-Ball Club Barcelona)
Stadium	Camp Nou
Stadium capacity	105,000 (expected)
Stadium coordinates	41°22′51.2″N 2°07′22.2″E / 41.380889°N 2.122833°E / 41.380889; 2.122833
President	Joan Laporta
Head coach	Hansi Flick
League	La Liga
2022–23	La Liga, 1st of 20 (champions)
Home colours Away colours Third colours

Futbol Club Barcelona, often called FC Barcelona or just Barça, is a famous professional football club. It is located in Barcelona, Spain, and plays in La Liga, which is the top football league in Spain.

The club started in 1899 thanks to a group of footballers from different countries, led by Joan Gamper. Barça quickly became a symbol of Catalan culture, using the motto "Més que un club" (which means "More than a club"). This shows that the club is very important to the people of Catalonia. What's special about Barcelona is that its fans actually own and run the club!

Barcelona is one of the richest and most valuable football clubs in the world. Its official song is "Cant del Barça". The team's traditional colors are dark blue and red stripes, which is why they are nicknamed Blaugrana.

Barça has won many trophies, making it one of the most successful clubs globally. They have won many Spanish league titles (La Liga) and the Spanish Cup (Copa del Rey). In international competitions, they have won the UEFA Champions League several times, along with other European and worldwide titles. Barcelona has a big rivalry with Real Madrid, and their matches are called El Clásico.

Many famous players have played for Barcelona, including Johan Cruyff, Romário, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, and Lionel Messi. These players have won prestigious awards like the Ballon d'Or. In 2010, three players from Barcelona's youth academy, La Masia—Lionel Messi, Andrés Iniesta, and Xavi—were named the top three players in the world, which was a truly amazing achievement!

Barcelona is one of only three clubs that have never been relegated from Spain's top division since it began in 1929. In 2009, Barcelona made history by winning the "continental treble" (La Liga, Copa del Rey, and Champions League) all in one season. They even won six trophies in that single year! They repeated the treble in 2015, becoming the first European club to do it twice.

History of FC Barcelona

The Early Years: 1899–1922

On October 22, 1899, a Swiss man named Joan Gamper put an advertisement in a newspaper. He wanted to start a football club. Many people responded, and on November 29, eleven players met and formed Foot-Ball Club Barcelona.

Barcelona quickly became successful in local and national competitions. In 1902, they won their first trophy, the Copa Macaya. Later that year, they played in the first Copa del Rey final.

In 1908, Joan Gamper became the club president. The club was facing tough times, but Gamper worked hard to keep it going. He was president five times until 1925. One of his biggest achievements was helping Barça get its own stadium, which gave the club a steady income.

On March 14, 1909, the team moved to the Camp de la Indústria, which could hold 8,000 fans. To celebrate, they held a contest for a new club crest. Carles Comamala won, and his design is still used today, with a few small changes.

The new stadium helped the club grow a lot in the 1910s. They won many regional titles and four Pyrenees Cups, which was an important international club competition back then. Famous players from this time included Carles Comamala and Paulino Alcántara. In 1917, Jack Greenwell became the club's first full-time coach.

During this period, the club also started using the Catalan language more. It became an important symbol of Catalan identity for many fans. By 1922, the club had over 20,000 members, who helped pay for a new, bigger stadium called Camp de Les Corts. This stadium could hold 30,000 people and was later expanded to 60,000.

A Golden Age and Challenges: 1923–1939

In 1925, during a period of political change in Spain, the stadium was closed for six months. This was a difficult time for the club. Around this time, Barcelona also became a professional football club.

In 1928, Barcelona won the Spanish Cup. A famous poem was written about their goalkeeper, Franz Platko, celebrating his amazing performance. On June 23, 1929, Barcelona won the very first Spanish League title!

Sadly, Joan Gamper passed away in 1930. The club then went through a challenging period, even though they still had great players like Josep Escolà. Political events in Spain made it hard for sports to be the main focus.

During the Spanish Civil War in 1936, the club's president, Josep Sunyol, was killed. This was a very sad moment for FC Barcelona and for Catalan identity. In 1937, the team went on a tour to Mexico and the United States. This trip helped the club financially, but many players stayed abroad, making it harder for the team to win trophies.

In 1938, Barcelona's offices were hit by a bomb during an air raid. After the war, the club faced many rules that tried to suppress Catalan culture. They had to change their name to Club de Fútbol Barcelona and remove the Catalan flag from their crest.

Post-War Success and New Stars: 1940–1957

Despite the tough political times, Barcelona had great success in the 1940s and 1950s. In 1945, with coach Josep Samitier and players like César and Ramallets, they won La Liga again. They won two more league titles in 1948 and 1949.

In 1950, Barcelona signed László Kubala, who became a legendary player. With Kubala and coach Ferdinand Daučík, the team won five different trophies in 1952, including La Liga and the Spanish Cup. This amazing team won La Liga and the Spanish Cup again in 1953.

During this time, Barcelona became more than just a football club. Many people saw it as a symbol of freedom and standing up for what's right.

Building a Legacy: 1957–1978

With Helenio Herrera as coach and star players like Luis Suárez (who won the European Footballer of the Year award in 1960), Sándor Kocsis, and Zoltán Czibor, Barcelona won more titles in 1959 and 1960. In 1961, they were the first club to beat Real Madrid in a European Cup match, but they lost in the final.

The 1960s were a bit harder for the club. The new Camp Nou stadium, finished in 1957, cost a lot of money, so there wasn't much left to buy new players. However, players like Josep Maria Fusté and Carles Rexach emerged. The club won the Spanish Cup in 1968, beating Real Madrid in their own stadium.

In 1974, after a long period of political control, the club changed its name back to Futbol Club Barcelona and restored its original crest.

Johan Cruyff joined Barcelona in the 1973–74 season for a world-record fee. He quickly became a fan favorite. He famously said he chose Barcelona over Real Madrid because he didn't want to play for a club associated with the previous political regime. He even named his son "Jordi" after the Catalan patron saint. With Cruyff, Barcelona won La Liga in 1974, their first league title since 1960. Cruyff won the European Footballer of the Year award three times, twice while playing for Barcelona.

A New Era of Leadership: 1978–2000

In 1978, Josep Lluís Núñez became the first elected president of FC Barcelona. From then on, the club's members have always chosen the president. Núñez wanted to make Barcelona a top club both on and off the field. He was president for 22 years.

The club won its first UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1979. That same year, Núñez started investing in the club's youth program, turning an old farmhouse called La Masia into a dormitory for young players. This academy became very important for Barcelona's future success.

In 1982, Diego Maradona joined Barcelona for a world-record fee. He helped the team win the Copa del Rey, but he soon left. In 1985, under manager Terry Venables, Barcelona won La Liga again.

In 1988, Johan Cruyff returned to Barcelona, this time as manager. He built what became known as the "Dream Team." This team included talented Spanish players like Pep Guardiola and international stars like Ronald Koeman, Michael Laudrup, and Hristo Stoichkov.

Players from La Masia, like Pep Guardiola, started playing for the first team. Under Cruyff, Barcelona won four La Liga titles in a row from 1991 to 1994. They also won the European Cup (now the Champions League) in 1992, with a famous free-kick goal from Ronald Koeman. Cruyff became the club's most successful manager at that time, winning 11 trophies.

After Cruyff left, Bobby Robson managed the team for one season in 1996–97. He signed Ronaldo, who scored 47 goals, and the team won three cups. Then, Louis van Gaal took over, and with players like Luís Figo, Patrick Kluivert, and Rivaldo, Barcelona won La Liga and the Copa del Rey in 1998. In 1999, the club celebrated its 100th anniversary by winning another La Liga title.

A New Century and Renewed Success: 2000–2008

The early 2000s were a bit difficult for Barcelona. Key players left, and managers changed often. However, in 2003, a new young president, Joan Laporta, and a new manager, Frank Rijkaard, brought fresh hope.

With new international players like Ronaldinho, Deco, and Samuel Eto'o, along with talented Spanish players from the academy like Carles Puyol, Andrés Iniesta, Xavi, and Víctor Valdés, the club started winning again. Barcelona won La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup in 2005. Ronaldinho and Eto'o were recognized as top players in the world.

In the 2005–06 season, Barcelona won La Liga and the Super Cup again. They also won the UEFA Champions League in 2006, beating Arsenal 2–1 in the final. This was their first European Cup victory in 14 years.

The next two seasons were challenging, and Barcelona didn't win any major trophies. In 2008, Joan Laporta announced that Barcelona B coach Pep Guardiola would become the new first-team manager.

The Guardiola Era: 2008–2012

Pep Guardiola took over as manager and brought a new style of play called "tiki-taka," focusing on quick, short passes. He built the team around players like Xavi, Andrés Iniesta, and Lionel Messi.

In 2009, Barça had an incredible year. They won the Copa del Rey, La Liga, and their third Champions League title, completing the first "treble" ever won by a Spanish team! They then went on to win the Spanish Super Cup, UEFA Super Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup, becoming the first European club to win six trophies in a single year.

In 2010, Barcelona won La Liga again. At the 2010 FIFA Ballon d'Or ceremony, Messi, Iniesta, and Xavi, all from Barcelona's La Masia academy, were named the three best players in the world. This was a historic moment for the club's youth system.

In the 2010–11 season, Barcelona won La Liga for the third time in a row. They also beat Manchester United 3–1 in the 2011 Champions League Final, winning their fourth European Cup. In 2011, they won the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup, bringing Guardiola's trophy count to 13 in just three years. Many people consider this Barcelona team to be one of the greatest of all time.

In 2012, Guardiola announced he would step down as manager. He finished his time at Barça by winning the Copa del Rey, bringing his total to 14 trophies. His assistant, Tito Vilanova, took over.

Continued Success and Challenges: 2012–2020

Tito Vilanova led Barcelona to an amazing La Liga title in the 2012–13 season, finishing with 100 points. Lionel Messi was again the top scorer with 46 goals. Sadly, Vilanova had to resign in 2013 due to health reasons.

Gerardo Martino became manager for the 2013–14 season. In 2014, Josep Maria Bartomeu became president.

In the 2014–15 season, Barcelona won another treble: La Liga, Copa del Rey, and the Champions League! This made them the first European team to win the treble twice. The attacking trio of Messi, Luis Suárez, and Neymar, known as "MSN," scored a record 122 goals that season.

Barcelona continued to win trophies, including the European Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup in 2015. They set a record for most goals scored in a calendar year. In 2016, they broke the Spanish record for the longest unbeaten streak in all competitions. They won their sixth La Liga title in eight seasons that year.

In 2017, Barcelona made a historic comeback in the Champions League, winning 6–1 against Paris Saint-Germain after losing the first game 4–0. Ernesto Valverde became the new manager. Barcelona won La Liga in 2018 and 2019. However, they had a surprising exit from the Champions League semi-finals in 2019.

In 2020, Quique Setién and then Ronald Koeman became managers. The club faced financial difficulties and changes in leadership. Josep Maria Bartomeu resigned as president in October 2020.

The Laporta Return and Post-Messi Era: 2021–Present

On March 7, 2021, Joan Laporta was elected president of Barcelona again. Under Ronald Koeman, Barcelona won their 31st Copa del Rey in 2021.

In August 2021, a big change happened: Lionel Messi, the club's all-time leading goalscorer, left Barcelona after 21 years because the club could not afford to re-sign him due to league rules and financial challenges. This marked the beginning of the "post-Messi era."

Due to financial issues and poor results, Ronald Koeman was replaced by club legend Xavi as manager in October 2021. Xavi helped improve the team's performance in La Liga, guiding them to second place.

On January 15, 2023, Xavi led Barcelona to their first trophy since Messi's departure, winning the Spanish Super Cup against Real Madrid. On May 14, 2023, Barcelona won their 27th league title, securing the La Liga championship with games to spare.

Barcelona Supporters

Barcelona supporters are called culers. This nickname comes from the early days when fans at the first stadium sat with their backsides (culs in Catalan) hanging over the stands!

About 25% of people in Spain support Barça, making them one of the most popular teams. Barcelona also has a huge following around the world, especially on social media. Many famous people, like Pope John Paul II, have been supporters.

As of May 31, 2023, the club has over 150,000 official members, called socis. There are also more than 1,200 official fan clubs, called penyes, all over the world. These fan clubs help promote Barcelona and get special benefits when they visit the city.

Club Rivalries

El Clásico

The match between Barcelona and Real Madrid is known as "The Classic" (El Clásico). It's one of the most famous rivalries in football! These two clubs represent different regions and cities in Spain: Catalonia (Barcelona) and Castile (Madrid).

Historically, Barcelona became a symbol of Catalan identity, often seen as different from the central government in Madrid. During certain periods in Spanish history, regional cultures were suppressed. Because of this, Barcelona's motto, Més que un club (More than a club), became very meaningful, showing its connection to Catalan identity and progressive ideas.

The rivalry became even more intense in the 1950s, especially when both clubs wanted to sign the legendary player Alfredo Di Stéfano. He eventually joined Real Madrid and helped them win many titles, including the first five European Cups. This period saw Real Madrid become a dominant force in European football.

El Clásico matches are always exciting and full of passion. Fans from both sides cheer loudly and create amazing atmospheres.

El Derbi Barceloní

Barcelona's local rival is Espanyol. This rivalry is called El Derbi Barceloní. Espanyol was founded by Spanish football fans, and they saw Barcelona as a team with many foreign players.

Traditionally, Espanyol was sometimes seen as a club that supported the central government, while Barça represented a more independent spirit in Catalonia. However, in recent years, the rivalry has become less about politics and more about the game itself.

Barcelona has usually been the stronger team in this derby. They have won most of the matches and have finished above Espanyol in the league many times. The only all-Catalan Spanish Cup final was won by Barça in 1957.

Rivalry with AC Milan

Barcelona also has a strong rivalry with Italian club AC Milan in European football. They have played each other many times, making it one of the most frequent matchups in European club competitions. Both clubs are very successful in Europe, having won many European Cups and Super Cups.

Barcelona has won more matches against Milan overall. One famous match was the 1994 Champions League final, where Milan surprisingly beat Cruyff's Dream Team 4–0. However, in 2013, Barcelona made an amazing comeback in the Champions League, winning 4–0 at Camp Nou after losing the first game 2–0.

Club Ownership and Finances

Like a few other Spanish clubs, Barcelona is owned by its members, not by a single person or company. These members, called socis, vote on important club decisions and elect the club president. As of May 31, 2023, there are over 150,000 socis.

Barcelona is one of the most valuable sports teams in the world. In November 2024, Barcelona announced a new sponsorship deal with Nike, which was reported to be the biggest in football history.

Club Records

Lionel Messi holds the record for the most games played for Barcelona, with 778 official appearances. He also holds the record for most appearances in La Liga matches for the club.

Messi is also Barcelona's all-time highest goalscorer in official competitions, with an incredible 672 goals. In December 2020, he surpassed Pelé's record for the most goals scored for a single club. Messi is also the top scorer for Barcelona in European and international club competitions. Other players who have scored over 100 league goals for Barcelona include César Rodríguez, Luis Suárez, László Kubala, and Samuel Eto'o.

László Kubala holds the La Liga record for scoring seven goals in one match in 1952. Lionel Messi shares the Champions League record with five goals in a single game in 2012.

Barcelona goalkeepers have won the Ricardo Zamora Trophy (for best goalkeeper) a record 20 times. Antoni Ramallets and Víctor Valdés each won it five times.

Jack Greenwell was Barcelona's longest-serving manager, coaching for nine years in two different periods. Pep Guardiola is the club's most successful manager, winning 14 trophies in just four years. Lionel Messi is the most successful Barcelona player, with 35 trophies.

Barcelona's Camp Nou is the largest stadium in Europe. The highest attendance ever recorded at Camp Nou was 120,000 fans in 1986. Today, the stadium's capacity is 99,354.

Barcelona is the only Spanish club to have won five trophies in a single season (1951–52). They are also the only club to have played in every season of European competitions since they began in 1955. In 2009, Barcelona became the first European football team to win six trophies in a calendar year, a "Sextuple."

Kits and Crest

The club's first crest looked like a diamond with the Crown of Aragon and a bat on top. It also had branches of laurel and palm. This crest was similar to Barcelona's city coat of arms, showing the club's connection to the city.

In 1910, the club held a competition for a new crest design. Carles Comamala, who was a player at the time, won. His design is the basis for the crest the club uses today, with a few small changes. The crest features the St George's Cross and the Catalan flag at the top, with the team's blue and red colors at the bottom.

The famous blue and red (garnet) colors of the Barcelona shirt were first worn in a match in 1900. There are different ideas about where these colors came from. Some say they came from the school of the first president's son, while others believe Joan Gamper chose them from his home team, FC Basel.

1899–1910

1910–present

2015–16

2019–20

2021–22

Notes

Kit Suppliers and Shirt Sponsors

Since 1998, Nike has been Barcelona's official kit supplier. In 2016, they renewed their deal until 2028. Barcelona earns a lot of money from selling its kits and merchandise.

For a long time, Barcelona did not have a sponsor name on the front of their shirts. In 2006, they made a special agreement to feature UNICEF's name, not for money, but to help raise funds for the organization. In 2011, the club signed its first commercial shirt sponsorship deal with Qatar Foundation.

Period	Kit manufacturer	Shirt main sponsor	Shirt sub sponsor(s)
1899–1982	None	None	None
1982–1992	Meyba
1992–1998	Kappa
1998–2003	Nike
2003–2004			Forum (left sleeve)
2004–2006			TV3 (left sleeve)
2006–2011		UNICEF
2011–2013		Qatar Foundation	TV3 (left sleeve) & UNICEF (back shirt)
2013–2014		Qatar Airways (€33,5m/year)	UNICEF (back shirt)
2014–2017			Beko (left sleeve) & UNICEF (back shirt)
2017–2021		Rakuten (€55m/year)
2021–2022			UNICEF (back shirt)
2022–2023		Spotify	UNHCR (back shirt)
2023–			AMBILIGHT TV (left sleeve) & UNHCR (back shirt)

Club Anthems

Barcelona has had several official songs throughout its history. The current anthem is "Cant del Barça" (The Song of Barça). It was created in 1974 for the club's 75th anniversary. Josep Maria Espinàs and Jaume Picas i Guiu [ca] wrote the lyrics in Catalan, and Manuel Valls composed the music.

The song was first performed on November 27, 1974, at Camp Nou. Since the 2008–09 season, "Cant del Barça" has been featured on the official Barcelona jerseys.

Recently, for the club's 124th anniversary, a new, improved version of the anthem was recorded. It features the Vallès Symphony Orchestra and choirs, making it sound even more grand. "Cant del Barça" is played before Barcelona games at Camp Nou, especially during big matches, and is a way for fans to celebrate victories.

Barcelona Stadiums

Barcelona first played on different fields. One of the first fixed venues was the Camp de la Indústria, which could hold about 6,000 people. As the club grew, this stadium became too small.

In 1922, with over 20,000 supporters, Barça built a larger stadium called Camp de Les Corts. It started with a capacity of 20,000 and was later expanded to 60,000.

After signing star player László Kubala in 1950, even more fans came to games. The club decided to build a new, even bigger stadium. Construction of Camp Nou began on March 28, 1954. It took three years to build and opened on September 24, 1957.

Camp Nou is now the largest stadium in Europe, with a current capacity of 99,354. In 1980, the club allowed supporters to engrave their names on bricks to help raise money for stadium improvements.

In December 2021, club members voted to approve the Espai Barça project, a plan to renovate the club's facilities, including Camp Nou. Renovation work on Camp Nou started on June 1, 2023, and is expected to finish by the end of 2026. During the 2023–24 season, Barcelona played their home games at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys in Montjuïc. They returned to Camp Nou in November 2024, even though construction was still ongoing.

Other important facilities include:

• Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper (Barcelona's training ground)
• Masia-Centre de Formació Oriol Tort (Home for young academy players)
• Estadi Johan Cruyff (Home for the reserve team and women's team)
• Palau Blaugrana (Indoor sports arena for other Barcelona teams)

Club Honours

Type	Competition	Titles	Seasons
Domestic	La Liga	28	1929, 1944–45, 1947–48, 1948–49, 1951–52, 1952–53, 1958–59, 1959–60, 1973–74, 1984–85, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2022–23, 2024–25
	Copa del Rey	32	1910, 1912, 1913, 1920, 1922, 1925, 1926, 1928, 1942, 1951, 1952, 1952–53, 1957, 1958–59, 1962–63, 1967–68, 1970–71, 1977–78, 1980–81, 1982–83, 1987–88, 1989–90, 1996–97, 1997–98, 2008–09, 2011–12, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2020–21, 2024–25
	Copa de la Liga	2	1983, 1986
	Supercopa de España	16	1983, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2023, 2025, 2026
	Copa Eva Duarte	3	1948, 1952, 1953
Continental	UEFA Champions League	5	1991–92, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2014–15
	UEFA Cup Winners' Cup	4	1978–79, 1981–82, 1988–89, 1996–97
	UEFA Super Cup	5	1992, 1997, 2009, 2011, 2015
	Inter-Cities Fairs Cup	3	1955–58, 1958–60, 1965–66
	Latin Cup	2S	1949, 1952
Worldwide	FIFA Club World Cup	3	2009, 2011, 2015
Regional	Catalan football championship	23	1901–02, 1902–03, 1904–05, 1908–09, 1909–10, 1910–11, 1912–13, 1915–16, 1918–19, 1919–20, 1920–21, 1921–22, 1923–24, 1924–25, 1925–26, 1926–27, 1927–28, 1929–30, 1930–31, 1931–32, 1933–34, 1935–36, 1937–38

•      Record
• ^S Shared record

Players

Spanish teams can have a limited number of players who are not from the European Union. Some non-European players on the team might have dual citizenship with an EU country.

Current Squad

Here are some of the players currently on the FC Barcelona team:

• João Cancelo (Defender, from Portugal, on loan)
• Ronald Araújo (Defender, from Uruguay, one of the team captains)
• Gavi (Midfielder, from Spain)
• Pedri (Midfielder, from Spain, one of the team captains)
• Robert Lewandowski (Forward, from Poland)
• Lamine Yamal (Forward, from Spain)
• Raphinha (Forward, from Brazil, one of the team captains)
• Frenkie de Jong (Midfielder, from Netherlands, vice-captain)
• Jules Koundé (Defender, from France)
• Marcus Rashford (Forward, from England, on loan)
• Dani Olmo (Midfielder, from Spain)

Club Management

Board of Directors

The club's board of directors helps run FC Barcelona. The president is elected by the club members.

• President: Joan Laporta
• First Vice President: Rafael Yuste
• Institutional Vice President: Elena Fort
• Vice President (Marketing): Juli Guiu

See also

In Spanish: Fútbol Club Barcelona para niños

• List of fan-owned sports teams
• Barcelona Femení
• Barcelona Atlètic
• Barcelona Futsal
• Barcelona Bàsquet
• Barcelona Handbol
• List of world champion football clubs