This season has been full of surprises, despite relatively few new players joining: the end of the season translates, as is the case every year, in 22bet’s yearly ranking of Barcelona’s players.
5. Jules Koundé
Jules Koundé has been one of the most consistent players of the season, compensating for Lamine Yamal’s movements in the final third. Koundé had been criticised in the past for his lack of involvement in the attack, but he was among the players who played the most consecutive minutes under Hansi Flick.
Barcelona needed someone on that wing who could be consistent, without playing excessively risky. Once injured, his absence was noticeable as it impacted Lamine Yamal’s gameplay.
4. Ferrán Torres
Ferrán Torres may not have started every game like Koundé, de facto starting the season as a substitute. However, he proved his worth when given the chance, eventually registering ten goals and six assists, with most of his appearances coming off the bench.
Torres has provided an alternative for Flick in the second half, when opponents tend to get tired. With his off-the-ball runs and a teammate like Lamine Yamal, Torres has only improved. The majority of his issues were mental; it is now public news that he took it to therapy, and has since been given the nickname ‘the shark’.
El balón se viene para casa… Y LaLiga, casi que también! ☘️🦈#FerranTheShark #ElClásico #FCBarcelona pic.twitter.com/UJvIb1MIzF
— Ferran Torres (@FerranTorres20) May 11, 2025
Although Torres cannot provide the physical presence of Robert Lewandowski, his goals have always come when it was most needed, equalising or scoring winners.
3. Pedri
One of the reasons why the number one and two on this list could enjoy full attacking freedom has been the lack of injuries for Pedri. Previously injury-ridden, his absence often jeopardised the team’s season, which played differently depending on his availability.
Pedri’s technical accuracy has often enabled his teammates to land in advantageous situations in the final third, which is why, despite landing third in our list, his importance is just as great as the rest of the podium.
Celebrando una temporada mágica🏆💙❤️ pic.twitter.com/b9hP2rr697
— Pedri González (@Pedri) May 19, 2025
He has adapted to different teammates and is regarded as one of the most important players in the dressing room. Pedri has often been paired with Olmo but also Frenkie de Jong, which has not impacted his gameplay.
Pedri has been responsible for organizing the team when it was most needed, especially when the team was trailing. He has demonstrated why he is the core foundation of the team. He takes his time and does not rush his decisions, which has often been a problem throughout the season for Barca.
2. Raphinha
If Pedri was important and the start of the chain, the end of it was none other than Raphinha. The Brazilian has been key in his goal contributions, scoring when the team has needed it the most during remontadas.
In 36 matches, Raphinha registered 18 goals and 11 assists, which only accounts for La Liga. In the Champions League, his record is even better: He scored 13 goals and registered 9 assists in fourteen appearances. It can be argued that he already had an eye for the goal under Xavi Hernández, but it was not as obvious as under Hansi Flick.
He had Amazing Season. pic.twitter.com/VGoNoNOBNl
— Raphinhaa 🇧🇷 (@RaphinhaaV1) May 26, 2025
In addition to his scoring abilities, Raphinha has also been key off the ball. He is undoubtedly one of the hard workers of the team, compensating for Lewandowski’s lack of movement off the ball. Similarly to Ferrán Torres, he thrives off the ball, running behind his marker and scoring in the penalty box.
It is true that Raphinha’s lack of composure has led him to unnecessary yellow cards, but it also means that Raphinha gained importance in the dressing room, as he stood up for his teammates in tense matches. Nonetheless, this has not stopped Raphinha from becoming a cult hero in Barcelona, despite initial critics concerning his lack of dribbling made him ‘the ugly duckling’ of the team a few years ago.
1. Lamine Yamal
If Raphinha is not first, this spot can only go to Lamine Yamal. There were already high expectations associated with the 17-year-old following his title charge with Spain at EURO 2024, but he has still managed to exceed those.
Lamine Yamal has consistently improved, both defensively and offensively. He is now one of the most respected attackers in Europe, key in La Liga and in the Champions League. When he couldn’t play in December due to injuries, the Lamine Yamal dependency on chance creation was noticeable.
— 🇪🇸 Lamine Yamal (@Lamineee_Yamal) May 27, 2025
Beyond his dribbling genius, Lamine Yamal has also established his own ‘Robben move’, often shooting to the top-left corner after curling his strike. It has made it difficult for most goalkeepers to come up with a solution, while teams like Inter Milan piled more than two defenders to guard him in the final third.
Beyond the technical side of the game, fans have been impressed with his performance off the pitch. It is easy to get caught in the world of superstars and excessive spending for young players, but this has not been the case with Lamine Yamal. He has regularly shown a strong character throughout the season, provoking his opponents after important victories, but always backing it up on the pitch.
— Lamine Yamal Nasraouii Ebanaa 🇪🇸 ᶠᴬᴺ (@Lamineeyamal__) May 23, 2025
Lamine Yamal is well-placed as not only Barcelona’s best player, but potentially as the World’s best player. He has already been mentioned by many fans on social media as the leading candidate for the Ballon d’Or race. Lamine Yamal has shown character and has impressed his new coach, Hansi Flick.
At only 17 years old, Lamine Yamal has already created a legacy for himself and is expected to sign a contract extension with Barcelona in the near future.
