The two giants of Spanish football, Real Madrid and Barcelona, are dominating the new edition of La Liga. “Los Blanos” and “Blaugranat” are getting ready for the first clash of the season (October 16) at a similar level, however they have some things that separate them.
1-Barcelona is almost two years younger. The average age of Barcelona’s first team is 25.3 years, while Real Madrid’s is 27.1. Only André Ter Stegen, Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba, Sergi Roberto, Sergi Busquets and Robert Lewandowski are over 30 in the Barça club. Thibaut Courtois, David Alaba, Dani Carvajal, Nacho Fernández, Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, Eden Hazard, Karim Benzema and Lucas Vázquez have spent three decades at the “Merenguesi”. Alejandro Balde, Pedri, Gavi, Pablo Torre and Ansu Fati have not reached the age of 20 at Barcelona. Eduardo Camavinga is the only one in Real’s first team under the age of 20.
2- The Real team has five players who have won the Champions League five times: Nacho Fernández, Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, Dani Carvajal and Karim Benzema. In addition, of the 24 players in Real Madrid’s first team, only Aurélien Tchouaméni has not been a Champions League champion.
At Barcelona, the only ones who have won the Champions League are: André ter Stegen, Gerard Pique, Andreas Christensen, Marcos Alonso, Jordi Alba, Sergi Busquets, Sergi Roberto and Robert Lewandowski. None of them reach five trophies: Pique has the most, four Champions.
3-Three Barca world champions and only one Real player. Despite having a younger team, there are three Barcelona players who have won the World Cup: Gerard Piqué, Sergi Busquets and Ousmane Dembélé. Toni Kroos, champion in 2014, is the only Real Madrid player who can boast of having lifted the World Cup.
4- One “Pichichi” and three “Zamora” at Real Madrid, none from Barça. Interestingly, only one player from both teams has the honor of being the top scorer in La Liga. It is Karim Benzema, who won the award in the 2021-2022 season with 27 goals.
The same thing happens with the “Zamora” trophy. Thibaut Courtois is the only one to have won the best goalkeeper award, even three times: with Real Madrid in 2019-20 and with Atlético Madrid in 2012-13 and 2013-14.
5- 11 academy players are at Barcelona, five more than at Real. Barça continues to show greater confidence in its young talents. Iñaki Peña, Arnau Tenas, Héctor Bellerín, Gerard Pique, Ronald Araújo, Eric García, Sergi Roberto, Alejandro Balde, Sergi Busquets, Gavi and Ansu Fati have been part of La Masías.
On the other hand, Valdebebas are represented in Real’s first team with six players: Luís López, Dani Carvajal, Nacho Fernández, Fede Valverde, Lucas Vázquez and Mariano Díaz. Vinicius Jr. and Rodrygo have played with Real Madrid Castilla, but were part of the first team.
6- The only player who has won the “Golden Ball” is part of the “merengues” team. Luka Modric was announced in 2018 as the best footballer in the world. Karim Benzema could follow in the footsteps of the Croatian in 2022.
No current Barcelona player has had the honor of winning the “Golden Ball”. Robert Lewandowski has come very close, but he has celebrated two “The Best” awards. Thibaut Courtois also has an award as the best goalkeeper of 2018.
