La Masia Academy Success
The world's best youth academy.
La Masia is the youth academy of FC Barcelona. It includes more than 300 young players and has been an instrumental factor in Barcelona's European success, producing several world class players and is considered the best youth system in world football.
Quick Facts
- Historic achievement
- First team composed entirely of La Masia graduates in 2012
Lore & Background
In 2010, La Masia became the first youth academy to have trained all three finalists for the Ballon d'Or in a single year: Lionel Messi, Andrés Iniesta and Xavi. On 25 November 2012, for the first time, Barcelona fielded all eleven players that have come up through La Masia in a La Liga match.
Reader's Guide
La Masia is one of the most expensive academies in Europe to run, operating at a cost to the club of €15 million a year as of 2013. The minimum age requirement is six years old; each year, more than 1,000 boys from the ages of six to eight try out for admission. The best 200 are selected. The club employs 15 scouts in Catalonia, 15 in the rest of Spain and 10 scattered throughout the world. Barcelona B and the 12 other youth teams contained 24 coaches and more than 300 players.
More in Club History & Eras
Elsewhere in FC Barcelona
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