Latest news with #VictorValdes
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Messi, Ronaldinho in – Lamine Yamal picks his all-time greatest Barcelona lineup
Barcelona return to training tomorrow and it will thus be a special day for not only the coaching staff but also for the dressing room. The day will only be made sweeter by the fact that it is Lamine Yamal's 18th birthday, and in all likelihood, the day he is officially handed the number 10 shirt. Advertisement Over the past year and a half, the youngster has made the impossible seem possible, helped change the mentality of the team and established himself as a bona fide starter all at the age of just 17. The coming season, needless to say, sees massive expectations pinned on him. Yamal picks his best XI In a recent interaction with Barça One, the young star was asked to pick his all-time Barcelona XI, including players from the past and the present. Given the sheer quality the club has seen and the legends it has housed over the years, it is not surprising that Yamal was excited about the challenge. He began from the goal where he picked Victor Valdes, the only homegrown goalkeeper to have scripted a historic legacy at the club. Advertisement 'In goal, I say Victor Valdes, because in my head he is the most historic goalkeeper we have had and the one I have seen play.' Moving to the defence, he opted to go for a three-man backline and thus did not pick any fullbacks but only central defenders. 'In defence, I say Gerard Pique, Puyol and Mascherano,' he said, picking the three greatest defenders in the club's history. The midfield, needless to say, was the most difficult department for Yamal to pick for the club has seen several big names render their services to the crest over the years. 'In the centre of the field, Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets, obviously,' he began. Advertisement Yamal even opted to name an extra member in the department, particularly in the attacking midfield, because he had no space to accommodate him in the forward line. 'I will put Ronaldinho, because in attack I already know who I will put and I will not have space.' Finally, Yamal revealed his all-time greatest Barcelona forward trio to be the MSN partnership that tore through European defences year after year in the last decade. 'Up Messi obviously, and I wanted to put Neymar because he is my favourite player and as a striker, Luis Suarez, for me, he is top.'
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Andreas Christensen picks his ultimate Barcelona XI full of icons and heroes
Barcelona defender Andreas Christensen recently took some time to reflect on the rich history of the club by revealing his all-time favourite Barça starting XI. Speaking to the club's official media, the Danish centre-back picked a star-studded line-up filled with iconic players who have left a lasting impact on the Camp Nou. Advertisement His choices were a mix of footballing royalty, personal favourites, and teammates he's had the honour of sharing the pitch with. From rock-solid defenders to creative midfielders and game-changing forwards, Christensen's XI is a tribute to the club's greatest talents. Solid at the back, magic in the midfield In goal, Christensen had no doubts, as Victor Valdes was his pick. The Dane praised the legendary goalkeeper as a key figure in one of the greatest club teams ever. 'He was part of one of the best teams that has ever existed,' he said. His backline included Dani Alves, Carles Puyol, Ronald Koeman and Jordi Alba. Each player, in Christensen's eyes, brought something unique to the team. 'Puyol's passion for football was incredibly important for the team,' he added. On Alba, whom he played alongside at Barça, he remarked, 'I saw how incredibly good he is, his assists and how he always pushed forward.' In midfield, Christensen selected Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta, and Michael Laudrup. He spoke highly of Busquets' composure under pressure: Advertisement 'It was an honour to play with him. I don't know how, but he always turned in the right direction, never feeling the pressure.' Iniesta, his personal favourite, and Laudrup, his fellow Dane, completed a midfield full of elegance and intelligence. A front three that needs no introduction Up front, Christensen went with the legendary trio of Lionel Messi, Johan Cruyff, and Ronaldinho. The defender did not feel the need to explain this choice, simply stating that their inclusion 'needs no explanation.' All three changed the way football is played and helped shape the identity of FC Barcelona.
