7 World Cup players in Germany, an incredible number, of have grown up and been developed in La Masia, FC Barcelona´s Youth Academy: Xavi, Carles Puyol, Andres Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas, Josep "Pepe" Reina, Luis García (all Spain) and Leo Messi (Argentina).


Xavi, Puyol, Iniesta and Messi are still playing for Barça´s first team that recently won the Spanish Championship for the second time in a row and are proud winners of the UEFA Champions League, while Josep Reina, Luis García (both Liverpool) and Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal) are currently playing in the English Premier League. The presence of 7 Barca youth players in the World Cup is a fine example of the quality work and excellent talent development by the Barca youth departement at La Masia.


Xavi has been at FC Barcelona for 15 years now and completed his 7th season for Barca´s first team. Xavi joined the club in July 1991 and worked his way through the ranks to make his first team debut in 1998 under then Barca coach, Louis Van Gaal.


Barca captain Carles Puyol arrived at La Masia in September 1995 and made his Barca first team debut in the 1999-2000 season, also under Coach Van Gaal.


Midfielder Andres Iniesta joined Barça as a youngster in 1996 and appeared for the first team in October 2002. This 2005-06 season was his best so far and he played a key role in Barca´s double trophy success and could well be one of the revelations of the World Cup in Germany. But Iniesta did not play in Spain´s opening match against Ucraina and has to wait for his world cup debut.


New sensation Leo Messi's joined Barca´s youth team from Newell's Old Boys at 13. The Argentinian youngster's progess has been spectacular. He worked his way up through every youth team before making his first team debut in October 2004 against RCD Espanyol. In 2005 he became U20 world champion, top scorer at the FIFA U20 world cup and best player of the tournament when still only 17. This season he was a regular in Frank Rijkaards double winning team and was selected by Argentinian national coach Pekerman to appear in the World Cup Finals in Germany.


Luis García, Josep Reina and Cesc Fabregas have also all come through the youth ranks at Barça but all three are now playing in England. Reina and Luis García are playing for Liverpool under Spanish coach Rafa Benítez, while Cesc Fabregas is a regular in Arsenal's midfield and reached the final of the Champions League but lost to his former Club FC Barcelona 1 - 2 in Paris.
Luis García joined Barça in 1994, José Manuel Reina arrived in 1995 and Cesc Fabregas as a kid in 1997. In 2004 Cesc left Barça after 7 years to sign for Arsenal.