Barca's number 10 shirt has been worn by a series of legends, but also by players who crumbled under its weight. Big names like Juan Roman Riquelme and Jari Litmanen couldn't fully realize their potential while carrying the responsibility of this iconic jersey.

Ansu Fati was the most recent player to wear Barca's number 10, inheriting it from Lionel Messi in the summer of 2021. However, inconsistent form and recurring injuries hampered the young forward's progress. Fati recently joined AS Monaco on loan, paving the way for a new owner of the legendary shirt.

That honor now belongs to 18-year-old Lamine Yamal, whose exceptional talent has raised hopes that he will join the ranks of the great stars who have graced the number 10 throughout the club's history.

Since fixed squad numbers were introduced in Spanish football in the late 1940s, many outstanding players have regularly worn Barca's number 10. Players like Gheorghe Hagi, Gary Lineker, and Evaristo also donned this prestigious shirt, but their impact pales in comparison to the following legends.

Laszlo Kubala

Considered the first superstar to regularly wear Barca's number 10, Kubala, a Hungarian star, left his homeland as a refugee and arrived in Catalonia, joining Barca in 1951. Across three spells at the club, Kubala wore the number 10, winning 14 major titles and scoring 194 goals – placing him among the top 5 greatest goalscorers in the club's history. Nicknamed "Big Head," Kubala was so beloved that a statue of him stands outside Camp Nou.

Luis Suarez

Not the modern-day Luis Suarez (who wore number 9), but Luis Suarez Miramontes, Kubala's teammate in the late 1950s. The late Spanish forward, with his masterful skills, was a key player in Barca's star-studded lineup, winning the Ballon d'Or in 1960 before transferring to Inter Milan the following year.

Diego Maradona

After just one year showcasing his exceptional talent at Boca Juniors, Maradona was handed the number 10 shirt upon joining Barca after the 1982 World Cup for a then-world-record fee of 7.6 million USD. The gifted Argentine played two seasons at Camp Nou, and despite injury interruptions, scored 38 goals in 58 appearances across all competitions. However, Maradona's personality and behavior were often controversial. Things ended badly after the 1984 Copa del Rey final, when he brawled with Athletic Bilbao players, leading to his departure for Napoli, where he reached the peak of his career and won the 1986 World Cup with Argentina.

Michael Laudrup

While not the flashiest number 10, Laudrup is widely regarded as one of the most composed and consistent central midfielders in football history. After making his name at Juventus, the Danish star was brought to Camp Nou by his idol, Johan Cruyff, becoming a vital part of the legendary "Dream Team." Laudrup won 9 major titles in 5 seasons, including 4 La Liga titles and a Champions League, before making the controversial move to Real Madrid in 1994.

Pep Guardiola

Having risen through La Masia, Guardiola was promoted to Barca's first team in the 1991-1992 season and given the number 10 shirt despite playing as a defensive midfielder. However, he didn't score that season and soon switched to number 4 the following season, ceding the number 10 to the more attack-minded Guillermo Amor for the 1992-1993 and 1993-1994 seasons.

Romario

After a prolific spell at PSV Eindhoven, Romario joined Barca in the 1993-1994 season to lead the "Dream Team" attack under Cruyff, alongside Hristo Stoichkov, Michael Laudrup, and Jose Maria Bakero. The Brazilian forward scored 30 goals in 33 matches, becoming La Liga's top scorer and helping Barca win the title. However, his relationship with Cruyff deteriorated, and a turbulent second season ended with Romario's abrupt return to Brazil to play for Flamengo in mid-January 1995.

Hristo Stoichkov

Another key member of Cruyff's "Dream Team," Stoichkov wore the number 10 and reached his peak at Barca. The Bulgarian forward terrorized defenses across Europe, winning 5 La Liga titles, a Champions League, and numerous other honors across two spells at Barca, along with the Ballon d'Or in 1994.

Rivaldo

Rivaldo is one of three former Barca number 10s among the club's top 10 all-time goalscorers, currently tied for eighth with Samuel Eto'o with 130 goals. The versatile forward played a pivotal role in two consecutive La Liga titles in the 1997-1998 and 1998-1999 seasons, even winning the Ballon d'Or in 1999. However, Rivaldo only began wearing the number 10 in the 2000-2001 season, having previously worn number 11. Despite Barca not winning any silverware that season, Rivaldo had his most prolific campaign at Camp Nou with 36 goals in 53 games.

Ronaldinho

With his vibrant, entertaining, and captivating style of play, Ronaldinho wore Barca's number 10 for 5 seasons from 2003-2008. He inherited the shirt from Riquelme, who, despite being one of the most creative midfielders of the modern era, failed to shine at Barca in the 2002-2003 season and was stripped of the number 10. Ronaldinho more than filled the void, captivating fans with dazzling performances. Even Real Madrid fans gave him a standing ovation at the Santiago Bernabeu after his magical display in the 2005 El Clasico, the same year he won the Ballon d'Or.

Lionel Messi

Considered Barca's most famous and greatest number 10, Messi actually took three years to claim the shirt, having previously worn numbers 30 and 19 before officially taking number 10 in the 2008-2009 season, Pep Guardiola's first as manager. The rest, as they say, is history, filled with magic and unforgettable moments for fans: a torrent of goals, shattered records, a mountain of trophies, and Messi's rapid ascent to being hailed as the greatest player of all time. He won 34 titles with Barca, becoming the club's and La Liga's all-time top scorer, before moving to PSG in the summer of 2021 and currently playing for Inter Miami.

As an iconic number 10, Messi leaves a legacy that will be difficult for anyone to surpass. Ansu Fati is a prime example. It remains to be seen which path Lamine Yamal will take.

Hoang Thong (according to ESPN)

Photo: AFP, EFE, Panoramic, FC Barcelona.