Barcelona has a rich history of top-tier football stars, with legends like Messi, Neymar, Xavi, and Iniesta leaving their mark on the club. The "Dream Team" of Barcelona's third era created an unprecedented sextuple title-winning season that no other team has been able to surpass. However, in recent seasons, Barcelona has been overshadowed by Real Madrid, and this season has been particularly challenging, with the team experiencing a decline in form.
Despite this, Barcelona has never been short of top talent, including several players in their prime who have chosen to leave the club for various reasons, only to find it difficult to return to their peak performance levels.
Neymar
At 32 years old, Neymar has just made his comeback, having come off the bench twice for Al Nassr this season, with his market value dropping to 15 million euros. In August 2023, Neymar moved from French giants Paris Saint-Germain to Saudi Arabia's Al Nassr, effectively stepping out of Europe's top five leagues. Many still believe that Neymar should not have left Barcelona, especially when he had a significant chance of winning the Ballon d'Or.
Neymar officially joined Barcelona from Santos in 2013, forming the formidable "MSN" trio with Messi and Suarez, achieving numerous accolades and being widely recognized as the third-best player in the world and the natural successor to Messi. However, in the 2015-16 season, Neymar chose to leave Barcelona for PSG.
His career trajectory has since been on a downward spiral, and his departure also contributed to Barcelona's rapid decline from its peak. While at PSG, Neymar has continued to produce impressive statistics, his lack of discipline off the field has led to frequent injuries, preventing him from regaining his peak form and failing to help the team win the UEFA Champions League.
Rivaldo
In 1996, Rivaldo transferred to Deportivo La Coruna, where he made 41 appearances and scored 21 goals in his first European season, ranking among the top 5 in the La Liga scoring charts. His strong attacking abilities in the front line impressed then-Barcelona coach Bobby Robson, who successfully convinced the club to bring Rivaldo on board. During his five seasons with Barcelona, Rivaldo proved Robson's judgment correct, once considered the best player in the world, and played a crucial role in securing the La Liga title for Barcelona.
However, just one month after the 2002 World Cup, Barcelona made the surprising decision to terminate Rivaldo's contract prematurely. At the time, Rivaldo was a key player for Brazil, scoring 5 goals in the World Cup. However, without the support of Barcelona's system, Rivaldo struggled to adapt, failing to find his footing at AC Milan and being released by the club after a year and a half. His rapid decline from international stardom to being unable to secure a place in any of Europe's top five leagues was astonishing.
Ronaldinho
Ronaldinho's footballing talent is undeniable; known as a magician on the pitch, his footwork is skillful and unique, often surprising opponents with unexpected moves. Ronaldinho started his Barcelona career on a high note, joining in 2003 and winning the FIFA World Player of the Year award the following year. In 2005, he won the Ballon d'Or and helped Barcelona win the UEFA Champions League in the 2005-2006 season, leading the "Dream Team II" to its peak.
With the rise of Messi and the appointment of Guardiola, coupled with an increase in injuries, 28-year-old Ronaldinho left Barcelona. Although his performance at Milan was not poor, with 78 appearances, 25 goals, and 16 assists over two seasons, it was no longer comparable to his peak form at Barcelona.
Deco
Currently serving as Barcelona's sporting director, Deco's primary task is to ensure that Yamar can stay at the Camp Nou long-term. As a Brazilian, Deco previously played for Sao Paulo before transferring to FC Porto in Portugal. However, with Brazil's abundance of football talent and fierce national team competition, Deco ultimately chose to join the Portuguese national team to pursue his football dreams. Under Mourinho, Deco underwent a complete transformation, playing a central midfield role in helping Mourinho win the 2003-2004 Champions League.
During the transfer window of the 2004-2005 season, Deco joined Barcelona alongside stars like Eto'o, Edmilson, Giuly, and Larsson, with Deco being the most anticipated of them all. His playing style suited Barcelona perfectly, quickly becoming an indispensable member of the midfield and being named the club's best player for the 2004-05 season, as well as being selected for the European Team of the Year. However, due to a poor relationship with Guardiola, Deco was sold to Chelsea for 11 million euros in the summer of 2008. At Chelsea, Deco struggled to adapt to the intense physicality and high-energy demands of the Premier League, suffering consecutive injuries and quickly fading from the starting lineup.
Pedro
The 37-year-old Spanish forward Pedro is still active in football, performing well this season for Lazio in Serie A. However, his peak was undoubtedly during his time at Barcelona, where he scored 99 goals and provided 62 assists since the 2007-2008 season.
In the summer of 2015, despite being in his prime at 28 years old, Pedro became a substitute due to the presence of the more outstanding Neymar and eventually left Barcelona, transferring to Chelsea, followed by stints at Roma and Lazio. However, his subsequent form could not match his peak years at Barcelona.