A total of 27 different players have seen action for FC Barcelona so far this season
Which players have accumulated the most? The answer might surprise you
The UEFA Super Cup on August 11 was the official opening of the 2015/16 season for FC Barcelona. Two and a half months later, the team coach by Luis Enrique has already played in five different competitions — the aforementioned final in Tbilisi, the Spanish Super Cup against Athletic Club, ten games in La Liga, three Champions League duels and a Copa del Rey match — with one more, the 2015 FIFA Club World Cup, still to play this December. All that adds up to seventeen official matches so far, and an astounding quantity of minutes which have been distributed among 27 players in all — 22 from the first, four from Barça B, and Pedro, who was shipped to Chelsea before league play opened up. Here’s a look at the number of minutes played by each player:
Luis Suárez (1,380): He’s played almost everything, leads the team in minutes played and has scored eleven goals.
Sergio Busquets (1,275): The midfielder has owned the centre of the pitch in La Liga.
Ivan Rakitic (1,201): A huge piece of the midfield and the author of a brace away at BATE Borisov.
Mascherano (1,191): Undisputed Luis Enrique, who could not have him suspended against Getafe and neither can do against Villarreal.
Neymar Jr. (1,077): He missed the beginning of the season with the mumps, leads La Liga in goal scoring with nine.
Gerard Piqué (986): After a four-matches suspension, the central defender has played every league match.
Dani Alves (967): The right wing-back has shared time with Sergi Roberto.
Jérémy Mathieu (907): He has played twelve matches at centre- and left-back.
Sergi Roberto (899): He’s had playing time in the midfield and on defence, and produced a pair of sublime assists against Getafe on Saturday night.
Marc-André ter Stegen (840): He has nine appearances, including four in La Liga. Like last season, Luis Enrique has anointed Ter Stegen Barça’s Champions League goalkeeper.
Jordi Alba (840): Despite injuries, he has played ten games at left-back.
Lionel Messi (790): The number 10 played every game until he was injured against Las Palmas.
Andrés Iniesta (731): His good start to the season was cut short by a right thigh injury, but came back to play 30 minutes against Getafe.
Claudio Bravo: (630): He missed six games with an injury but, since his return, has played every league game.
Munir El Haddadi (591): The winger has played in ten straight games.
Marc Bartra (570): The defender has played eight games, six as a starter, at centre-back.
Sandro Ramírez (482): The Canary Island native has played in all but four games.
Thomas Vermaelen (387): The defender is now ready to fully participate after a left calf injury hindered his start to the season.
Adriano Correia (359): The Brazilian has played in four games and offers Luis Enrique a multi-faceted option on the field.
Rafinha (332): A major player at the beginning of the year, a serious knee injury ended his season early.
Pedro Rodríguez (166): The striker was transferred before starting the league after a great career at the Club. His last goal won the UEFA Super Cup.
Gerard Gumbau (150): The young Barça B player has played five games in midfield.
Douglas (102): Despite playing against Rayo Vallecano and Villanovense, injuries have plagued the defender.
Jordi Masip (90): The third-string goalkeeper made his first appearance of the season in the Copa del Rey match at Villanueva de la Serena.
Sergi Samper (90): The Barça B midfielder played the full match in the first leg of the Copa del Rey last 32 against Villanovense.
Wilfrid Kaptoum (64): The young midfielder from Barça B debuted with the first team as a starter last Wednesday in Villanueva de la Serena.
Aitor Cantalapiedra (26): Like Kaptoum, this Barça B prospect debuted with the first team in the Copa del Rey.
* Stats by Opta