La Masia de Can Planes was an old Catalan farmhouse, built in 1702. In 1979, it was first used by the club to house its … See more

La Masia houses about 60 players: 10 in the farmhouse, and the rest in rooms of the adjacent stadium; the rest of the youth players must provide for their own accommodation. The academy is one of the most expen… See more

"The player who has passed through La Masia has something different to the rest, it's a plus that only comes from having competed in a Barcelona shirt from the time you were a child."— Former Barcelona coach Pep … See more

In 2009, Messi became the first player from La Masia to be awarded with the Ballon d'Or prize for the best footballer in Europe, and the FIFA World Player award, for the best footballer in the world.
Spain won … See more

• Barcelona's talent factory (video)
• The academy spotlight: Ajax and Barcelona – These Football Times (2015) See more