Editing FC Barcelona (section)

== History ==
{{Main|History of FC Barcelona}}
{{See also|List of FC Barcelona seasons}}

=== 1899–1922: Beginnings ===
[[File:Walter_Wild.jpg|thumb|upright=.8|[[Walter Wild]], the club's first president (1899–1901). His main achievement was providing Barça with its first home ground.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fcbarcelona.com/club/history/card/walter-wild-1899-1901|title=Walter Wild (1899–1901)|publisher=FC Barcelona|access-date=19 September 2016|archive-date=10 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170210223513/https://www.fcbarcelona.com/club/history/card/walter-wild-1899-1901|url-status=live}}</ref>]]
[[File:Futbol club barcelona - notas de sport.jpg|thumb|250px|alt="SPORT NOTES Our friend and partner, Mr. Kans Kamper, from the Foot-Vall Section of the <<Sociedad Los Deportes>> and former Swiss champion, wishing to organize some matches in Barcelona, requests that everyone who likes this sport contact him, come to this office Tuesday and Friday nights from 9 to 11."|Gamper's advertisement in ''[[Los Deportes]]''
<nowiki>—</nowiki>
''English translation:''

"SPORT NOTE. Our friend and partner, Mr. Kans Kamper, from the Foot-Vall Section of the 'Sociedad Los Deportes' and former Swiss champion, wishing to organise some matches in Barcelona, requests that everyone who likes this sport contact him, come to this office Tuesday and Friday nights from 9 to 11."<ref name="Ball, Phil p. 89"/>]]

On 22 October 1899, Swiss [[Joan Gamper|Hans Gamper]] placed an advertisement in ''[[Los Deportes]]'' declaring his wish to form a football club; a positive response resulted in a meeting at the ''Gimnasio Solé'' on 29 November. Eleven players attended – [[Walter Wild]] (the first president of the club), [[Luis de Ossó]], [[Bartomeu Terradas]], Otto Kunzle, [[Otto Maier (footballer)|Otto Maier]], Enric Ducal, [[Pere Cabot]], Carles Pujol, [[Josep Llobet]], [[John Parsons (footballer, born 1875)|John Parsons]], and [[William Parsons (footballer)|William Parsons]] – and formed Foot-Ball Club Barcelona.<ref name="Ball, Phil p. 89">Ball, Phil p. 89.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/card/643865/1899-1909-foundation-and-survival |title=1899–1909. Foundation and survival |publisher=FC Barcelona |access-date=15 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513175149/https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/card/643865/1899-1909-foundation-and-survival |archive-date=13 May 2021}}</ref>
[[File:Vitrina-1.v1311695239.jpg|thumb|right|250px|A formation of FC Barcelona in 1903]]
FC Barcelona had a successful start in regional and national cups, competing in the [[Catalan football championship|Campionat de Catalunya]] and the {{lang|es|[[Copa del Rey]]|italic=no}}. In 1901, the club participated in the first football competition played on the [[Iberian Peninsula]], the [[Copa Macaya]], narrowly losing to [[Hispania Athletic Club|Hispania AC]], but in the following year, Barça won the tournament, the club's first-ever piece of silverware,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/news/1645450/barca-rewind-the-first-ever-title |title=Barça Rewind: The first ever title |website=www.fcbarcelona.com |date=23 March 2020 |accessdate=26 July 2022 |archive-date=19 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220919104048/https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/news/1645450/barca-rewind-the-first-ever-title |url-status=live }}</ref> and then participated in the [[1902 Copa de la Coronación|first Copa del Rey]], losing 1–2 to [[Bizcaya (football team)|Bizcaya]] (a combination of players from [[Athletic Bilbao|Athletic Club]] and [[Bilbao Football Club|Bilbao FC]]) in the [[1902 Copa de la Coronación Final|final]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/spancup1902.html |title=Spain - Cup 1902 |date=15 September 2000 |access-date=20 July 2022 |archive-date=21 July 2022 |website=[[RSSSF]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220721002345/https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/spancup1902.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1908, Hans Gamper – now known as Joan Gamper – became club president, attempting to prevent Barcelona from shutting down. The club was struggling financially and socially, as well as in performance. They had not won a competition since the Campionat de Catalunya in 1905. He said in a meeting, "Barcelona cannot die and must not die. If there is nobody who is going to try, then I will assume the responsibility of running the club from now on."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fcbarcelona.com/club/history/card/joan-gamper-1908-1909-1910-1913-1917-1919-1921-1923-1924-1925 |title=Joan Gamper |publisher=FC Barcelona |access-date=21 September 2016 |archive-date=20 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220140649/https://www.fcbarcelona.com/club/history/card/joan-gamper-1908-1909-1910-1913-1917-1919-1921-1923-1924-1925 |url-status=live }}</ref> He was club president on five separate occasions between 1908 and 1925, spending a total of 25 years in the role. One of his main achievements was ensuring Barça acquired its own stadium and thus generated a stable income.<ref name="fcbarcelona1">{{cite web |url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/english/club/historia/etapes_historia/etapa_1.html |archive-url=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20090702100948/http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/english/club/historia/etapes_historia/etapa_1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 July 2009 |title=History part I |publisher=FC Barcelona |access-date=11 March 2010 }}</ref>

On 14 March 1909, the team moved into the [[Camp de la Indústria]], a stadium with a capacity of 8,000. To celebrate their new surroundings, the club conducted a logo contest the following year. [[Carles Comamala]] won the contest, and his suggestion became the crest that the club still wears – with some minor changes – as of the present day.<ref name=crest>{{cite web |url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/english/club/historia/simbols/escut.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120530060040/http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/english/club/historia/simbols/escut.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 May 2012 |title=The crest |access-date= 30 July 2010 |publisher=FC Barcelona }}</ref>

The stadium is regarded as the main element that helped the club grow in the 1910s and become a dominant team,<ref name=camp>{{cite web |url=https://www.fcbarcelona.es/es/club/noticias/1645589/el-campo-de-la-calle-de-la-industria-111-anos-de-inspiracion |title=El campo de la calle de la Industria, 111 años de inspiración |trans-title=The field of Industry Street, 111 years of inspiration |language=es |publisher=FC Barcelona |access-date=28 July 2020 |archive-date=27 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127195901/https://www.fcbarcelona.es/es/club/noticias/1645589/el-campo-de-la-calle-de-la-industria-111-anos-de-inspiracion |url-status=live }}</ref> winning three successive Campionats de Catalunya between 1909 and 1911, three Copa del del Rey in four years between [[1910 Copa del Rey#Copa FEF (Federación Española de Fútbol)|1910]] and [[1913 Copa del Rey#Copa UECF (Unión Española de Clubes de Fútbol)|1913]], and four successive [[Pyrenees Cup]] between the inaugural year in 1910 and 1913. The Pyrenees Cup was one of the earliest international club cups in Europe. It consisted of the best teams of [[Languedoc]], [[Le midi|Midi]] and [[Aquitaine]] (Southern France), the [[Basque Country (greater region)|Basque Country]] and Catalonia, all former members of the [[Marca Hispanica]] region. The contest was the most prestigious in that era.<ref>Murray, Bill. p. 30</ref> Notable figures of Barça's first great team include Carles Comamala, [[Alfredo Massana]], [[Manuel Amechazurra|Amechazurra]], [[Francisco Bru|Paco Bru]], and [[Jack Greenwell]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesp/pyrenees.html |title=Coupe des Pyrenées – Copa de los Pirineos |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |date=19 June 2001 |access-date=12 June 2010 |author=Ferrer, Carles Lozano |archive-date=3 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803101250/http://rsssf.com/tablesp/pyrenees.html |url-status= live }}</ref> The latter became the club's first full-time coach in 1917.<ref>Closa ''et al.'' p. 62–63</ref>

During the same period, the club changed its official language from [[Spanish language|Castilian]] to [[Catalan language|Catalan]] and gradually evolved into an important symbol of Catalan identity. For many fans, participating in the club had less to do with the game itself and more with being a part of the club's collective identity.<ref>Spaaij, Ramón. p. 279</ref> On 4 February 1917, the club held its first [[testimonial match|tribute match]] to honour [[Ramón Torralba]], who played from 1913 to 1928. The match was against local side Terrassa where Barcelona won the match 6–2.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fcbarcelona.com/club/history/card/ramon-torralba-larraz|title=Ramon Torralba Larraz|publisher=FC Barcelona|access-date=19 April 2018|archive-date=20 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180420011337/https://www.fcbarcelona.com/club/history/card/ramon-torralba-larraz|url-status=live}}</ref>

Gamper simultaneously launched a campaign to recruit more club members, and by 1922, the club had more than 20,000, who helped finance a new stadium. The club then moved to the new [[Camp de Les Corts|Les Cortes]], which they inaugurated the same year.<ref name=Arnaud103/> Les Cortes had an initial capacity of 30,000, and in the 1940s it was expanded to 60,000.<ref name="fcbarcelona2">{{cite web|url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/english/club/historia/etapes_historia/etapa_2.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120530060040/http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/english/club/historia/etapes_historia/etapa_2.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 May 2012 |title=History part II |publisher=FC Barcelona |access-date=11 March 2010 }}</ref>

In 1912, Gamper recruited [[Paulino Alcántara]], the club's seventh all-time top-scorer. In 1917, Gamper also recruited Jack Greenwell as Barcelona's first full-time [[Manager (association football)|manager]]. After this hiring, the club's fortunes began to improve on the field and soon enjoyed its first "golden age". Along with Alcántara, the Barça team under Greenwell also included [[Emilio Sagi Liñán|Sagibarba]], [[Ricardo Zamora]], [[Josep Samitier]], [[Félix Sesúmaga]], and [[Franz Platko]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.elperiodico.com/es/barca/20190531/samitier-y-zamora-la-edad-de-oro-barcelona-llega-centenario-7483576 |title=La 'Edad de Oro' del Barça llega a su centenario |trans-title=Barça's golden age reaches its centenary |language=es |author=Frederic Porta |date=31 May 2019 |publisher=El periodico |access-date=28 July 2022 |archive-date=12 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230112055950/https://www.elperiodico.com/es/barca/20190531/samitier-y-zamora-la-edad-de-oro-barcelona-llega-centenario-7483576 |url-status=live }}</ref> This team won 9 out of 10 Campionats de Catalunya between 1919 and 1928 and two Copa del Rey titles in [[1920 Copa del Rey|1920]] and [[1922 Copa del Rey|1922]]. In total, during the Gamper-led era, Barcelona won eleven Campionats de Catalunya, six Copa del Rey and four Pyrenees Cups.<ref name="rsssf1">{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/spancuphist.html |title=Spain&nbsp;– List of Cup Finals |author=Carnicero, José Vicente Tejedor |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |date=21 May 2010 |access-date=9 March 2010 |archive-date=31 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731071239/http://www.rsssf.com/tabless/spancuphist.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="fcbarcelona1"/>

=== 1923–1931: Primo de Rivera, and first golden age ===
On 14 June 1925, in a spontaneous reaction against [[Miguel Primo de Rivera|Primo de Rivera]]'s dictatorship, the crowd in the stadium jeered the [[Royal March]]. As a reprisal, the ground was closed for six months and Gamper was forced to relinquish the presidency of the club.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fcbarcelona.com/club/history/card/joan-gamper-1908-1909-1910-1913-1917-1919-1921-1923-1924-1925|title=Joan Gamper (1908–1909 / / 1910–1913 / / 1917–1919 / / 1921–1923 / / 1924–1925)|publisher=FC Barcelona|access-date=19 April 2018|archive-date=4 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180504070530/https://www.fcbarcelona.com/club/history/card/joan-gamper-1908-1909-1910-1913-1917-1919-1921-1923-1924-1925|url-status=live}}</ref> This coincided with the club's transition to professional football. The first time the directors of Barcelona publicly claimed to operate a professional football club was in 1926.<ref name=Arnaud103>Arnaud, Pierre; Riordan, James. p. 103</ref>

[[File:Barcelona fc lamina elgrafico.jpg|thumb|Team of FC Barcelona, published on ''[[El Gráfico (Argentina)|El Gráfico]]'', 1926]]
On 3 July 1927, the club held a second testimonial match for [[Paulino Alcántara]], against the [[Spain men's national football team|Spanish national team]]. To kick off the match, local journalist and pilot Josep Canudas dropped the ball onto the pitch from his aeroplane.<ref name="fcbarcelona.cat">{{cite web |url=http://www.fcbarcelona.cat/web/downloads/centre_de_documentacio/annexes/castellano/24_._PARTIDOS_DE_HOMENAJE_A_JUGADORES.pdf |title=Partidos de Homenaje a Jugadores |language=ca |publisher=FC Barcelona |access-date=24 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616045544/http://arxiu.fcbarcelona.cat/web/downloads/centre_de_documentacio/annexes/castellano/24_._PARTIDOS_DE_HOMENAJE_A_JUGADORES.pdf |archive-date=16 June 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1928, victory in the Spanish Cup was celebrated with a poem titled "Oda a [[Franz Platko|Platko]]", which was written by a member of the [[Generation of '27]], [[Rafael Alberti]], inspired by the performance of the Barcelona [[Goalkeeper (association football)|goalkeeper]], Franz Platko.<ref>{{cite web|title=Football, European Integration, National Identity: The Case of FC Barcelona|author=Roy, Joaquín|year=2001|url=http://aei.pitt.edu/2175/|publisher=European Community Studies Association (paper)|page=4|access-date=23 November 2014|archive-date=27 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111227112830/http://aei.pitt.edu/2175/|url-status=live}}</ref> On 23 June 1929, Barcelona won the [[1929 La Liga|inaugural Spanish League]]. A year after winning the championship, on 30 July 1930, Gamper committed suicide after a period of depression brought on by personal and financial problems.<ref name="fcbarcelona1"/>

=== 1931–1939: Republic, and Civil War: Assassination of President Sunyol ===
Although they continued to have players of the standing of [[Josep Escolà]], the club now entered a period of decline, in which political conflict overshadowed sports throughout society. Attendance at matches dropped as the citizens of Barcelona were occupied with discussing political matters.<ref>Burns, Jimmy. pp. 111–112</ref> Although the team won the Campionat de Catalunya in 1930, 1931, 1932, 1934, 1936, and 1938,<ref name="rsssf1"/> they did not win at a national level in this time, with the exception of their 1937 disputed title in the [[Mediterranean League]].

A month after the [[Spanish Civil War]] began in 1936, several players from Barcelona enlisted in the ranks of those who fought against the military uprising, along with players from Athletic Bilbao.<ref>Arnaud, Pierre; Riordan, James. p. 104</ref> On 6 August, [[Falangist]] soldiers near [[Guadarrama]] murdered club president [[Josep Sunyol]], a representative of the pro-independence political party.<ref>Spaaij, Ramón. pp. 280</ref> He was dubbed the martyr of ''barcelonisme'', and his assassination was a defining moment in the history of FC Barcelona and Catalan identity.<ref>Ball, Phil. pp. 116–117</ref> In the summer of 1937, the squad was on tour in Mexico and the United States, where it was received as an ambassador of the [[Second Spanish Republic]]. The tour led to the financial security of the club, but also resulted in half of the team seeking [[right of asylum|asylum]] in Mexico and France, making it harder for the remaining team to contest for trophies.<ref>Murray, Bill. p. 70</ref><ref>Ball, Phil. pp. 118–120</ref>

On 16 March 1938, Barcelona came under aerial bombardment from the [[Italian Air Force]], causing more than 3,000 deaths, with one of the bombs hitting the club's offices.<ref>Raguer, Hilari. pp. 223–225</ref><ref>Graham, Helen. p. 351</ref> A few months later, Catalonia came under occupation, and as a symbol of the "undisciplined" [[Catalanism]], the club, now down to just 3,486 members, faced a number of restrictions. All signs of regional nationalism, including language, flag and other signs of separatism were banned throughout Spain. The [[Senyera|Catalan flag]] was banned and the club were prohibited from using non-Spanish names. These measures forced the club to change its name to ''Club de Fútbol Barcelona'' and to remove the Catalan flag from its crest.<ref>Burns, Jimmy. pp. 80–83</ref>

=== 1940–1957: Post-war, and start of Franco's regime ===
[[File:Kubala.jpg|thumb|190px|A prolific forward, [[László Kubala]] led Barcelona to success in the 1950s. His statue is built outside Camp Nou.]]
In [[El Clásico#1943 Copa del Generalísimo semi-finals|1943]], Barcelona faced rivals [[Real Madrid C.F.|Real Madrid]] in the semi-finals of [[Copa del Generalísimo]] (now the Copa del Rey). The first match at Les Corts was won by Barcelona 3–0. Real Madrid comfortably won the second leg, beating Barcelona 11–1.<ref>{{cite news|title=Real Madrid v Barcelona: six of the best 'El Clásicos'|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/la-liga/8946213/Real-Madrid-v-Barcelona-six-of-the-best-El-Clasicos.html|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=19 March 2015|date=9 December 2011|location=London|archive-date=19 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111219102109/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/la-liga/8946213/Real-Madrid-v-Barcelona-six-of-the-best-El-Clasicos.html|url-status=live}}</ref> According to football writer [[Sid Lowe]], "There have been relatively few mentions of the game [since] and it is not a result that has been particularly celebrated in Madrid. Indeed, the 11–1 occupies a far more prominent place in Barcelona's history. This was the game that first formed the identification of Madrid as the team of the dictatorship and Barcelona as its victims."<ref>Sid Lowe: Fear and loathing in La Liga.. Barcelona vs Real Madrid". p. 67. Random House. 26 September 2013</ref> It has been alleged by local journalist Paco Aguilar that Barcelona's players were threatened by police in the changing room, though nothing was ever proven.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/federation/news/newsid=70557.html |title=Barca&nbsp;– Much more than just a Club |date=10 December 1998 |access-date=10 May 2009 |publisher=FIFA |last=Aguilar |first=Paco |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090507062242/http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/federation/news/newsid%3D70557.html |archive-date= 7 May 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Despite the difficult political situation, ''CF Barcelona'' enjoyed considerable success during the 1940s and 1950s. In 1945, with [[Josep Samitier]] as coach and players like [[César Rodríguez Alvarez|César]], [[Antoni Ramallets|Ramallets]] and [[Juan Zambudio Velasco|Velasco]], they won La Liga for the first time since 1929. They added two more titles in 1948 and 1949.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lfp.es/Default.aspx?tabid=113&Controltype=EvHist&id=1&tmpd=28&tmph=110&e1=5&e2=&e3=&e4= |title=Evolution 1929–2010 |publisher=Liga de Fútbol Profesional |access-date=6 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720042754/http://www.lfp.es/Default.aspx?tabid=113&Controltype=EvHist&id=1&tmpd=28&tmph=110&e1=5&e2=&e3=&e4= |archive-date=20 July 2011 }}</ref> In [[1949 Latin Cup|1949]], they also won the first [[Latin Cup|Copa Latina]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesl/latin.html |title=Latin Cup |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |date=23 November 2006 |access-date=12 June 2010 |author1=Stokkermans, Karel |author2=Gorgazzi, Osvaldo José |archive-date=24 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170724080813/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesl/latin.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In June 1950, Barcelona signed [[László Kubala]], who was to be an important figure at the club.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/english/club/historia/jugadors_de_llegenda/kubala.html |title=Kubala |publisher=FC Barcelona |date=17 May 2002 |access-date=5 October 2010 |archive-date=30 May 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120530065622/http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/english/club/historia/jugadors_de_llegenda/kubala.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

On a rainy Sunday of 1951, the crowd left Les Corts stadium after a 2–1 win against [[Racing de Santander|Santander]] by foot, refusing to catch any trams, and surprising the [[Francoist]] authorities. A tram strike was taking place in Barcelona, and it received the support of [[Supporters of FC Barcelona|blaugrana fans]]. Events like this made CF Barcelona represent much more than just Catalonia. Many progressive [[Spaniards]] saw the club as a staunch defender of [[rights]] and [[freedoms]].<ref>Ferrand, Alain; McCarthy, Scott. p. 90</ref><ref>Witzig, Richard. p. 408</ref>

Coach [[Ferdinand Daučík]] and László Kubala led the team to five different trophies in 1952. These were La Liga, the Copa del Generalísimo, the [[Copa Latina]], the [[Supercopa de España|Copa Eva Duarte]], and the [[Copa Martini & Rossi]]. In 1953, the club won La Liga and the Copa del Generalísimo again.<ref name="fcbarcelona2"/>

=== 1957–1978: Club de Fútbol Barcelona ===
With [[Helenio Herrera]] as coach, a young [[Luis Suárez (footballer, born 1935)|Luis Suárez]], the [[Ballon d'Or|European Footballer of the Year]] in [[1960 Ballon d'Or|1960]], and two [[Hungary|Hungarians]] recommended by Kubala, [[Sándor Kocsis]] and [[Zoltán Czibor]], the team won another national double in 1959 and a [[La Liga]] and Fairs Cup double in 1960. In 1961, they became the first club to beat Real Madrid in a [[1960–61 European Cup|European Cup]] play-off. However, they lost 2–3 to [[S.L. Benfica|Benfica]] in the final.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec196061.html |title=European Competitions 1960–61 |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |date=27 June 2007 |access-date=11 August 2010 |first=James M. |last=Ross |archive-date=1 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121101123741/http://rsssf.com/ec/ec196061.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="fcbarcelona3">{{cite web |url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/english/club/historia/etapes_historia/etapa_3.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121205073354/http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/english/club/historia/etapes_historia/etapa_3.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 December 2012 |title=History part III |publisher=FC Barcelona |access-date=15 March 2010 }}</ref>
[[File:LuisSuarezMiramontes1960.webp|thumb|right|180px|[[Luis Suárez (footballer, born 1935)|Luis Suárez]], the first Barcelona player to win the [[Ballon d'Or]].]]
The 1960s were less successful for the club, with Real Madrid monopolising La Liga. The completion of [[Camp Nou]], finished in 1957, meant the club had little money to spend on new players.<ref name="fcbarcelona3"/> The 1960s saw the emergence of [[Josep Maria Fusté]] and [[Carles Rexach]], and the club won the Copa del Generalísimo in 1963 and the Fairs Cup in 1966. Barcelona beat Real Madrid 1–0 in the 1968 Copa del Generalísimo final at the [[Santiago Bernabéu Stadium|Santiago Bernabéu]] in front of dictator [[Francisco Franco]], with coach [[Salvador Artigas]], a former republican pilot in the Civil War. With the end of Franco's dictatorship in 1974, the club changed its official name back to ''Futbol Club Barcelona'' and reverted the crest to its original design, including the original letters.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/english/club/historia/simbols/escut.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120530060040/http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/english/club/historia/simbols/escut.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 May 2012 |title=The Crest |publisher=FC Barcelona |access-date=11 April 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eufo.de/football/esp/fc_blona.html|title=FC Barcelona – European football clubs & squads|access-date=12 July 2008|publisher=Eufo.de|archive-date=17 December 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081217125734/http://www.eufo.de/football/esp/fc_blona.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Johan Cruyff]] joined in the 1973–74 season. He was bought for a world record £920,000 from [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]].<ref>MacWilliam, Rab; MacDonald, Tom. p. 180</ref> Already an established player with Ajax, Cruyff quickly won over the Barcelona fans when he told the European press that he chose Barcelona over Real Madrid because he could not play for a club associated with Francisco Franco. He further endeared himself when he named his son [[Jordi Cruyff|"Jordi"]], after the local Catalan [[Saint George]].<ref>Ball, Phil. pp. 83–85</ref> Next to champions like [[Juan Manuel Asensi]], Carles Rexach and [[Hugo Sotil]], he helped the club win the [[La Liga 1973–74|1973–74 season]] for the first time since 1960,<ref name="rsssf1"/> defeating Real Madrid 5–0 at the Santiago Bernabéu en route. He was crowned [[European Footballer of the Year]] in [[1973 Ballon d'Or|1973]] during his first season with Barcelona (his second Ballon d'Or win; he won his first while playing for Ajax in [[1971 Ballon d'Or|1971]]). Cruyff received this award a third time (the first player to do so) in 1974, while he was still with Barcelona.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/europa-poy.html |date=11 December 2009 |author1=Moore, Rob |author2=Stokkermans, Karel |title=European Footballer of the Year ("Ballon d'Or") |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |access-date=11 April 2010 |archive-date=5 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905115113/http://rsssf.com/miscellaneous/europa-poy.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== 1978–2000: Núñez and stabilization ===
[[File:La Masia (Can Planas) (Barcelona) - 1.jpg|thumb|right|In 1979, Barcelona bought [[La Masia]], a farmer's house built in 1702, to be a residence for young academy players. It would later play a significant role in the club's future success.<ref>{{cite book |last=Lowe |first=Sid |title=Fear and Loathing in La Liga: Barcelona vs Real Madrid (Page 373) |year=2013 |publisher=Random House |isbn=978-02-2409-178-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2l6zHv_reuUC&pg=PA373 |access-date=14 July 2016 |archive-date=23 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170423203637/https://books.google.com/books?id=2l6zHv_reuUC&pg=PA373 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Rogers |first=Iain |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE59L02D20091022 |title=Barca talent farm marks 30 years of success |work=Reuters |date=22 October 2009|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130104115920/http://uk.reuters.com/article/2009/10/22/uk-soccer-spain-academy-sb-idUKTRE59L02D20091022|archive-date=4 January 2013|url-status=dead|access-date=4 January 2013}}</ref>]]

In 1978, [[Josep Lluís Núñez]] became the first elected president of FC Barcelona. Since then, the members of Barcelona have elected the club president. The process of electing a president of FC Barcelona was closely tied to Spain's transition to democracy in 1974 and the end of Franco's dictatorship. The new president's main objective was to develop Barcelona into a world-class club by giving it stability both on and off the pitch. His presidency lasted 22 years. It deeply affected the image of Barcelona, as Núñez held to a strict policy regarding wages and discipline, letting go of such players as [[Diego Maradona]], [[Romário]] and [[Ronaldo (Brazilian footballer)|Ronaldo]] rather than meeting their demands.<ref name="fcbarcelona4">{{cite web |url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/english/club/historia/etapes_historia/etapa_4.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121204143800/http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/english/club/historia/etapes_historia/etapa_4.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 December 2012 |title=History part IV |publisher=FC Barcelona |access-date=15 March 2010 }}</ref><ref>Ball, Phil p. 85</ref>

The club won its first [[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup|European Cup Winners' Cup]] on 16 May 1979, beating [[Fortuna Düsseldorf]] 4–3 in [[Basel]]. More than 30,000 travelling ''blaugrana'' fans watched the final. The same year, Núñez began to invest in the club's youth programme by converting La Masia into a dormitory for young academy players from abroad. The name of the dormitory would later become synonymous with the youth programme of Barcelona.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/english/club/club_avui/territori_barca/la_Masia/lamasia.html |title=La Masia |access-date=30 July 2010 |publisher=FC Barcelona |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20091003171950/http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/english/club/club_avui/territori_barca/la_Masia/lamasia.html |archive-date= 3 October 2009 }}</ref>
[[File:Maradona Barcelona shirt.jpg|thumb|right|[[Diego Maradona]]'s ''blaugrana'' shirt on display in the [[FC Barcelona Museum]]]]
In June 1982, Diego Maradona was signed for a world record fee of £5&nbsp;million from [[Boca Juniors]].<ref>Dobson, Stephen; Goddard, John A. p. 180</ref> In the following season, under coach [[César Luis Menotti]], Barcelona won the Copa del Rey, beating Real Madrid. Maradona soon left to join [[S.S.C. Napoli|Napoli]]. At the start of the [[La Liga 1984-85|1984–85]] season, [[Terry Venables]] was hired as manager. He won La Liga with noteworthy displays by German midfielder [[Bernd Schuster]]. The next season, he took the team to their second [[1985–86 European Cup|European Cup]] [[1986 European Cup Final|final]]. The team lost on penalties to [[CSA Steaua București (football)|Steaua București]] in [[Seville]].<ref name="fcbarcelona4"/>

Around this time, tensions began to arise between what was perceived as president Núñez's dictatorial rule and the nationalistic support group, [[Boixos Nois]]. The group, identified with a left-wing separatism, repeatedly demanded the resignation of Núñez and openly defied him through chants and banners at matches. At the same time, Barcelona experienced an eruption in [[skinheads]], who often identified with a right-wing separatism. The skinheads slowly transferred the Boixos Nois' ideology from [[liberalism]] to [[fascism]], which caused division within the group and a sudden support for Núñez's presidency.<ref>Spaaij, Ramón pp. 291–292</ref> Inspired by British hooligans, the remaining Boixos Nois became violent, causing havoc leading to large-scale arrests.<ref>Spaaij, Ramón p. 293</ref>

After the [[1986 FIFA World Cup]], Barcelona signed the English top scorer [[Gary Lineker]], along with goalkeeper [[Andoni Zubizarreta]], but the team could not achieve success, as Schuster was excluded from the team. Terry Venables was fired at the beginning of the 1987–88 season and replaced with [[Luis Aragonés]]. The season finished with the players rebelling against president Núñez, in an event known as the Hesperia mutiny, and a 1–0 victory in the Copa del Rey final against [[Real Sociedad]].<ref name="fcbarcelona4"/>

[[File:Cruyff_a_la_banqueta_del_Camp_Nou.jpg|thumb|right|200px|As coach of the "Dream Team", [[Johan Cruyff]] won four consecutive league titles with Barcelona.]]
In 1988, Johan Cruyff returned to the club, this time as manager. He assembled what would later be dubbed the "Dream Team".<ref>{{cite web|last=Duff |first=Alex |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aoCiLlYsuvL8 |title=Barcelona Emulates 'Dream Team' to Win European Title |publisher=Bloomberg |date=18 May 2006 |access-date=5 October 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105120217/http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aoCiLlYsuvL8 |archive-date=5 November 2012 }}</ref> He used Spanish players like [[Pep Guardiola]], [[José Mari Bakero]], [[Jon Andoni Goikoetxea]], [[Miguel Angel Nadal]], and [[Txiki Begiristain]], and signed international players such as [[Ronald Koeman]], [[Michael Laudrup]], [[Romário]], and [[Hristo Stoichkov]].<ref>{{cite book
| last1 =Barend
| first1 = Frits
| last2 = van Dorp
| first2 = Henk
| title = Ajax, Barcelona, Cruyff
| publisher = Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
| year = 1999
| isbn = 978-0-7475-4305-3
}}</ref>

Ten years after the inception of the youth programme, La Masia, its players began to graduate and play for their first team. Pep Guardiola, the future coach of Barcelona, was one of the first graduates and would go on to receive international recognition.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/european_football/article5950195.ece |author=Hawkey, Ian |work=The Times |access-date=30 July 2010 |title=Novelty factor adds spice to clash of giants |date=22 March 2009 |location=London |archive-date=4 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210704153458/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Under Cruyff's guidance, Barcelona won four consecutive La Liga titles from 1991 to 1994. They beat [[U.C. Sampdoria|Sampdoria]] in both the 1989 [[1988–89 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup|UEFA Cup Winners' Cup]] final and the 1992 [[1991–92 European Cup|European Cup]] final at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley]], with a free kick goal from Dutch international Ronald Koeman. They also won a Copa del Rey in 1990, the [[UEFA Super Cup|European Super Cup]] in 1992 and three Supercopa de España trophies.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/noticies/643913/1988-96-lera-del-dream-team|title=1988-1996. The era of the 'Dream Team'|publisher=FC Barcelona|date=13 March 2018|access-date=18 February 2024|archive-date=18 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240218222235/https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/noticies/643913/1988-96-lera-del-dream-team|url-status=live}}</ref> With 11 trophies, Cruyff became the club's most successful manager at that point. He also became the club's longest consecutive serving manager, serving eight years.<ref name=honours>{{cite web|url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/english/futbol/palmares/palmares.html |archive-url=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20091003163828/http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/english/futbol/palmares/palmares.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 October 2009 |title=Honours |publisher=FC Barcelona |access-date=12 March 2010 }}</ref> Cruyff did not win any trophies in his final two seasons, and fell out with president Josep Lluís Núñez, resulting in his departure.<ref name="fcbarcelona4"/>

Reacting to Cruyff's departure, an independent protest group was organised by Armand Caraben, [[Joan Laporta]] and Alfons Godall.<ref name="King"/> The objective of the group, called ''L'Elefant Blau'', was to oppose the presidency of Núñez, which they regarded as a corruption of the club's traditional values.<ref name="King">King, Anthony pp. 185–186</ref><ref>Ball, Phil pp. 110–111</ref> Laporta would later take over the presidency of Barcelona in 2003.<ref>{{cite news|title=Joan Laporta on Barcelona, Beckham, Mourinho, Guardiola and Messi|url=http://www1.skysports.com/watch/tv-shows/revista-de-la-liga/news/8713233/joan-laporta-on-barcelona-beckham-mourinho-guardiola-and-messi|publisher=Sky Sports|date=21 March 2015|access-date=20 March 2015|archive-date=2 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402101115/http://www1.skysports.com/watch/tv-shows/revista-de-la-liga/news/8713233/joan-laporta-on-barcelona-beckham-mourinho-guardiola-and-messi|url-status=live}}</ref>

Cruyff was briefly replaced by [[Bobby Robson]], who took charge of the club for a single season in 1996–97. He recruited [[Ronaldo (Brazilian footballer)|Ronaldo]] for a world record transfer fee from his previous club, [[PSV Eindhoven|PSV]], and delivered a [[Treble (association football)|cup treble]], winning the Copa del Rey, [[1995–96 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup|UEFA Cup Winners' Cup]] and the Supercopa de España, with Ronaldo registering 47 goals in 49 games.<ref name="Ronaldo"/> Despite his success, Robson was only ever seen as a short-term solution while the club waited for [[Louis van Gaal]] to become available.<ref name="fcbarcelona5">{{cite web |url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/english/club/historia/etapes_historia/etapa_5.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121204192124/http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/english/club/historia/etapes_historia/etapa_5.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 December 2012 |title=History part V |publisher=FC Barcelona |date=15 June 2003 |access-date=12 March 2010 }}</ref>

Ronaldo soon left for [[Inter Milan]] in another world record transfer.<ref name="Ronaldo">{{cite news|last1=Smyth|first1=Rob|title=Ronaldo at 40: Il Fenomeno's legacy as greatest ever No9, despite dodgy knees|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2016/sep/17/ronaldo-40-birthday-brazil-greatest-ever-striker|newspaper=The Guardian|date=17 September 2016|access-date=31 August 2018|archive-date=7 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180907161434/https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2016/sep/17/ronaldo-40-birthday-brazil-greatest-ever-striker|url-status=live}}</ref> However, new heroes emerged, such as [[Luís Figo]], [[Patrick Kluivert]], [[Luis Enrique (footballer)|Luis Enrique]] and [[Rivaldo]], and the team won a Copa del Rey and La Liga double in 1998. In 1999, the club celebrated its ''centenari'', winning the Primera División title, and Rivaldo became the fourth Barcelona player to be awarded European Footballer of the Year. Despite this domestic success, the failure to emulate Real Madrid in the Champions League led to van Gaal and Núñez resigning in 2000.<ref name="fcbarcelona5"/>

=== 2000–2008: Exit Núñez, enter Laporta ===
[[File:Ronaldinho 11feb2007.jpg|thumb|right|180px|[[Ronaldinho]]'s arrival in 2003 revitalized the club.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/news/2013-2014/when-barca-got-their-smile-back-documentary-about-ronaldinho |title='When Barça got their smile back' – documentary about Ronaldinho |publisher=FC Barcelona |date=9 September 2013 |access-date=20 September 2016 |archive-date=13 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161013231537/https://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/news/2013-2014/when-barca-got-their-smile-back-documentary-about-ronaldinho |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/feb/09/europeanfootball.sport |title=Ronaldinho brings smile to Barca's face |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=9 February 2004 |access-date=20 September 2016 |archive-date=13 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161013225010/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/feb/09/europeanfootball.sport |url-status=live }}</ref>]]
The departures of Núñez and Van Gaal were hardly noticed by the fans when compared to that of Luís Figo, then club vice-captain. Figo had become a cult hero and was considered by Catalans to be one of their own. Barcelona fans, however, were distraught by Figo's decision to join arch-rivals Real Madrid, and, during subsequent visits to Camp Nou, Figo was given an extremely hostile reception. Upon his first return, a piglet's head and a full bottle of whiskey were thrown at him from the crowd.<ref>Ball, Phil. p. 19</ref> The next three years saw the club in decline, and managers came and went. Van Gaal was replaced by [[Lorenzo Serra Ferrer]] who, despite an extensive investment in players in the summer of 2000, presided over a mediocre league campaign and a first-round Champions League exit, and was dismissed late in the season. Long-serving Barcelona deputy coach Carles Rexach was appointed as his replacement, initially on a temporary basis, and managed to at least steer the club to the last Champions League spot on the final day of the season against Valencia via an exceptional performance from [[Rivaldo]], who completed arguably the [[Hat-trick#Association football|greatest hat-trick]] in history with an overhead bicycle kick winner in the final minute to secure qualification.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2008/jun/19/barcelona.brazil|title=On Second Thoughts: Rivaldo|work=The Guardian|date=19 June 2008|access-date=8 June 2014|quote=Best of all there was the greatest hat-trick of all time, against Valencia on June 17, 2001, a midsummer night's dream of a performance that deserves a book|archive-date=27 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327145422/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2008/jun/19/barcelona.brazil|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Ranked! The 15 best hat-tricks of all-time: starring Bale, Berba, Bergkamp and more |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/ranked-15-best-hat-tricks-all-time-starring-bale-berba-bergkamp-and-more?page=0%2C2 |access-date=14 October 2018 |work=FourFourTwo |quote=A predictable winner? Perhaps. But everything about Rivaldo’s hat-trick against Valencia on June 17, 2001 beggared belief |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181015003022/https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/ranked-15-best-hat-tricks-all-time-starring-bale-berba-bergkamp-and-more?page=0%2C2 |archive-date=15 October 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/news/2001/06/18/barcelona_rivaldo_ap/|title=Rivaldo hat-trick wins all the plaudits|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=18 June 2001|access-date=8 June 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010626224249/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/news/2001/06/18/barcelona_rivaldo_ap/|archive-date=26 June 2001}}</ref>

Despite better form in La Liga and a good run to the semi-finals of the Champions League, Rexach was never viewed as a long-term solution and that summer Van Gaal returned to the club for a second spell as manager. What followed, despite another decent Champions League performance, was one of the worst La Liga campaigns in the club's history, with the team as low as 15th in February 2003. This led to Van Gaal's resignation and replacement for the rest of the campaign by [[Radomir Antić]], though a sixth-place finish was the best that he could manage. At the end of the season, Antić's short-term contract was not renewed, and club president [[Joan Gaspart]] resigned, his position having been made completely untenable by such a disastrous season on top of the club's overall decline in fortunes since he became president three years prior.<ref>Ball, Phil. pp. 109–110</ref>

After the disappointment of the Gaspart era, the combination of a new young president, Joan Laporta, and a young new manager, former [[Netherlands national football team|Dutch]] and [[A.C. Milan|AC Milan]] star [[Frank Rijkaard]], saw the club bounce back. On the field, an influx of international players, including [[Ronaldinho]], [[Deco]], [[Henrik Larsson]], [[Ludovic Giuly]], [[Samuel Eto'o]], [[Rafael Márquez]] and [[Edgar Davids]], combined with home grown Spanish players, such as [[Carles Puyol]], [[Andrés Iniesta]], [[Xavi (footballer, born 1980)|Xavi]] and [[Víctor Valdés]], led to the club's return to success. Barcelona won La Liga and the Supercopa de España in [[2004–05 FC Barcelona season|2004–05]], and Ronaldinho and Eto'o were voted first and third, respectively, in the [[FIFA World Player of the Year]] awards.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/4486166.stm |title=Ronaldinho wins world award again |work=BBC Sport |date=19 December 2005 |access-date=11 August 2010 |archive-date=5 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130905163441/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/4486166.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the [[2005–06 FC Barcelona season|2005–06 season]], Barcelona repeated their league and Supercopa successes. The pinnacle of the league season arrived at the Santiago Bernabéu in a 3–0 win over Real Madrid. It was Rijkaard's second victory at the Bernabéu, making him the first Barcelona manager to win there twice. Ronaldinho's performance was so impressive that after his second goal, which was Barcelona's third, some Real Madrid fans gave him a standing ovation.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/real-madrid-0-barcelona-3-bernabeu-forced-to-pay-homage-as-ronaldinho-soars-above-the-galacticos-516202.html |title=Real Madrid 0 Barcelona 3: Bernabeu forced to pay homage as Ronaldinho soars above the galacticos |work=The Independent |date=21 November 2005 |access-date=11 August 2010 |location=London |first=Patrick |last=McCurdy |archive-date=9 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180109235502/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/real-madrid-0-barcelona-3-bernabeu-forced-to-pay-homage-as-ronaldinho-soars-above-the-galacticos-516202.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In the Champions League, Barcelona beat English club [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] in the [[2006 UEFA Champions League final|final]]. Trailing 1–0 to a ten-man Arsenal and with less than 15 minutes remaining, they came back to win 2–1, with substitute Henrik Larsson, in his final appearance for the club, setting up goals for Samuel Eto'o and fellow substitute [[Juliano Belletti]], for the club's first European Cup victory in 14 years.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/4773353.stm |title=Barcelona 2–1 Arsenal |work=BBC Sport |date=17 May 2006 |access-date=11 August 2010 |archive-date=2 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902101230/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/4773353.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

Despite being the favourites and starting strongly, Barcelona finished the [[2006–07 FC Barcelona season|2006–07 season]] without trophies. A pre-season US tour was later blamed for a string of injuries to key players, including leading scorer Eto'o and rising star [[Lionel Messi]]. There was open feuding as Eto'o publicly criticised coach Rijkaard and Ronaldinho.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/6353861.stm |title=Barcelona will not punish Eto'o |work=BBC Sport |date=14 February 2007 |access-date=11 August 2010 |archive-date=21 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120421040045/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/6353861.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> Ronaldinho also admitted that a lack of fitness affected his form.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/news/2007/August/03/barcelona-defends-asian-tour/ |title=Barcelona defends Asian tour |website=[[The Sydney Morning Herald|Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=3 August 2007 |access-date=11 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230916134821/https://www.smh.com.au/world/barcelona-defends-asian-tour-20070803-r8a.html |archive-date=16 September 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref> In La Liga, Barcelona were in first place for much of the season, but inconsistency in the New Year saw Real Madrid overtake them to become champions. Barcelona advanced to the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey, winning the first leg against [[Getafe CF|Getafe]] 5–2, with a goal from Messi bringing comparison to Diego Maradona's [[Argentina v England (1986 FIFA World Cup)#The Goal of the Century|goal of the century]], but then lost the second leg 4–0. They took part in the [[2006 FIFA Club World Cup]], but were beaten by a late goal in the final against Brazilian side [[Sport Club Internacional|Internacional]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/tournament=107/edition=248388/news/newsid=108718.html#internacional+make+japan |title=Internacional make it big in Japan |publisher=FIFA |date=17 December 2006 |access-date=11 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110512070249/http://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/tournament%3D107/edition%3D248388/news/newsid%3D108718.html |archive-date=12 May 2011 }}</ref> In the [[2006–07 UEFA Champions League|Champions League]], Barcelona were knocked out of the competition in the last 16 by eventual runners-up [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] on [[away goals]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/15117/10518501/liverpool-v-barcelona-six-past-meetings-between-the-two-sides |title=Liverpool v Barcelona: Six past meetings between the two sides |last=Wright |first=Nick |publisher=Sky Sports |date=6 August 2016 |access-date=16 December 2018 |archive-date=17 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181217071126/https://www.skysports.com/football/news/15117/10518501/liverpool-v-barcelona-six-past-meetings-between-the-two-sides |url-status=live }}</ref>

Barcelona finished the [[2007–08 FC Barcelona season|2007–08 season]] third in La Liga and reached the semi-finals of the [[2007–08 UEFA Champions League|UEFA Champions League]] and [[Copa del Rey 2007–08|Copa del Rey]], both times losing to the eventual champions, [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] and [[Valencia CF|Valencia]], respectively. The day after a 4–1 defeat to Real Madrid, Joan Laporta announced that [[FC Barcelona Atlètic|Barcelona B]] coach Pep Guardiola would take over Frank Rijkaard's duties on 30 June 2008.<ref name="FC Barcelona">{{cite web|url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/english/noticies/destacades/n080508104104.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121204141033/http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/english/noticies/destacades/n080508104104.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 December 2012|title=Rijkaard until 30 June; Guardiola to take over|date=8 May 2008|access-date=8 May 2009|publisher=FC Barcelona}}</ref>

=== 2008–2012: Guardiola era ===
{{multiple image|align=right
 | footer    = Barcelona's midfield combination of [[Andrés Iniesta]] (left) and [[Xavi (footballer, born 1980)|Xavi]] (right) were at the heart of Guardiola's [[tiki-taka]] passing style of play.<ref>{{cite news |first=David |last=Pleat |title=Middle men to the fore in dictating the rhythm with care |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2009/may/28/barcelona-manchester-united-david-pleat-chalkboard |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=28 May 2009 |access-date=21 January 2016 |archive-date=6 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201106050523/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2009/may/28/barcelona-manchester-united-david-pleat-chalkboard |url-status=live }}</ref>
 | width     =
 | image1    = Andrés Iniesta - 001.jpg
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 | alt1      = A man wearing long, dark blue shorts and a light blue sweatshirt under an orange bib.
 | image2    = Xavi Hernández - 001.jpg
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 | alt2      = A man wearing a light blue sweatshirt and dark blue shorts.
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[[FC Barcelona B|Barcelona B]] youth manager [[Pep Guardiola]] took over Frank Rijkaard's duties at the conclusion of the season.<ref name="FC Barcelona"/> Guardiola brought with him the now famous [[tiki-taka]] style of play he had been taught during his time in the Barcelona youth teams. In the process, Guardiola sold Ronaldinho and Deco and started building the Barcelona team around Xavi, Andrés Iniesta and Lionel Messi.<ref>{{cite news |title=The greatest teams of all time: Barcelona 2008–12 |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0253-0d7ff5460779-90f1672a7e36-1000--the-greatest-teams-of-all-time-barcelona-2008-12/ |access-date=30 March 2022 |agency=UEFA |archive-date=8 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808225604/https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0253-0d7ff5460779-90f1672a7e36-1000--the-greatest-teams-of-all-time-barcelona-2008-12/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:039 men at work UEFA 2009, Rome.jpg|thumb|[[Lionel Messi]] in action during the [[2009 UEFA Champions League Final]] victory against [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]].]]

Barça beat Athletic Bilbao 4–1 in the [[2009 Copa del Rey final]], winning the competition for a record-breaking 25th time.<ref>{{cite web|title=El Barça se corona por aplastamiento|url=https://www.marca.com/2009/05/13/futbol/copa_rey/1242251735.html|date=13 May 2009|access-date=3 August 2023|publisher=[[Marca (newspaper)|MARCA]]|language=es|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101225090458/https://www.marca.com/2009/05/13/futbol/copa_rey/1242251735.html|archive-date=25 December 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> A historic 2–6 victory against Real Madrid followed three days later and ensured that Barcelona became [[2008–09 La Liga]] champions.<ref>{{cite web|title=Barcelona's 6-2 win over Real Madrid, Guardiola's masterpiece|url=https://marca.com/en/football/spanish-football/2018/08/17/5b768c7dca4741bb0f8b4635.html|publisher=[[Marca (newspaper)|MARCA]]|language=en|date=17 August 2018|access-date=3 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230803032423/https://marca.com/en/football/spanish-football/2018/08/17/5b768c7dca4741bb0f8b4635.html|archive-date=3 August 2023|url-status=live}}</ref> Barça finished the season by beating Manchester United 2–0 at the [[Stadio Olimpico]] in [[Rome]], with goals from Eto'o and Messi, to win their third Champions League title, and complete the first ever treble won by a Spanish team.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=646187&sec=europe&root=europe&&cc=5739|title=One title closer to the treble|date=14 May 2009|publisher=ESPN|first=Eduardo|last=Alvarez|access-date=30 May 2009|archive-date=24 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024211606/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=646187&sec=europe&root=europe&&cc=5739|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/8060878.stm|title=Barcelona 2–0 Man Utd|date=27 May 2009|work=BBC Sport|access-date=30 May 2009|archive-date=28 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200928230258/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/8060878.stm/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=19 May 2009 |title=Pep Guardiola's love affair with Barça continues |url=http://www.thesportreview.com/tsr/2009/05/pep-guardiola-barcelona/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120912183541/http://www.thesportreview.com/tsr/2009/05/pep-guardiola-barcelona/ |archive-date=2012-09-12 |access-date=31 May 2009 |publisher=Thesportreview.com}}</ref> The team went on to win the [[2009 Supercopa de España]] against Athletic Bilbao<ref>{{Cite news|title=Messi leads Barcelona to Spanish Supercup win |publisher=CNN Sports Illustrated. Associated Press |date=23 August 2009 |url=http://sports.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/gold/story.asp?i=20090823224656240000201 |access-date=25 December 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708171500/http://sports.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/gold/story.asp?i=20090823224656240000201 |archive-date=8 July 2011 }}</ref> and the [[2009 UEFA Super Cup]] against [[FC Shakhtar Donetsk|Shakhtar Donetsk]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fcbarcelona.cat/web/english/futbol/temporada_09-10/arxiu_partits/supercopa_europa/final/jornada01/Barcelona_Shakhtar_Donetsk/partit.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120729184706/http://www.fcbarcelona.cat/web/english/futbol/temporada_09-10/arxiu_partits/supercopa_europa/final/jornada01/Barcelona_Shakhtar_Donetsk/partit.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 July 2012 |title=Barcelona vs Shakhtar Donetsk |publisher=FC Barcelona |access-date=13 March 2010}}</ref> becoming the first European club to win both domestic and European Super Cups following a treble. In December 2009, Barcelona won the [[2009 FIFA Club World Cup|2009 Club World Cup]].<ref>{{cite news | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/8422908.stm | title = Barcelona beat Estudiantes to win the Club World Cup | work = BBC Sport | date = 19 December 2009 | access-date = 14 April 2010 | archive-date = 23 March 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120323005910/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/8422908.stm | url-status = live }}</ref> Barcelona accomplished two new records in Spanish football in 2010 as they retained the La Liga trophy with 99 points and won the Supercopa de España for a ninth time.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5hTKYLfFVJSz8N1uam6zrvdyQGZqA |title=The Canadian Press: Messi's three goals as Barcelona wins record ninth Spanish Supercup |agency=The Canadian Press |date=21 August 2010 |access-date=27 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100824072643/https://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5hTKYLfFVJSz8N1uam6zrvdyQGZqA |archive-date=24 August 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/2010-05-16-barcelona-spanish-league-title_N.htm|title=Messi, Barcelona set records in Spanish league title repeat|work=USA Today|date=16 May 2010|access-date=11 August 2010|archive-date=28 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528013448/http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/2010-05-16-barcelona-spanish-league-title_N.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

After Laporta's departure from the club in June 2010, [[Sandro Rosell]] was soon elected as the new president. The elections were held on 13 June, where he received 61.35% (57,088 votes, a record) of total votes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/english/club/historia/presidents/sandrorosell.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120903143210/http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/english/club/historia/presidents/sandrorosell.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 September 2012|title=Sandro Rosell i Feliu (2010–)|work=FC Barcelona|access-date=5 June 2011}}</ref> Rosell signed [[David Villa]] from Valencia for €40&nbsp;million<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fcbarcelona.cat/web/english/noticies/futbol/temporada09-10/05/19/n100519111099.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120802164009/http://www.fcbarcelona.cat/web/english/noticies/futbol/temporada09-10/05/19/n100519111099.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 August 2012|title=Barca agree Villa move with Valencia|date=19 May 2010 |publisher=FC Barcelona|access-date=4 June 2011}}</ref> and [[Javier Mascherano]] from Liverpool for €19&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fcbarcelona.cat/web/english/noticies/futbol/temporada10-11/08/27/n100827112582.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120731104643/http://www.fcbarcelona.cat/web/english/noticies/futbol/temporada10-11/08/27/n100827112582.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=31 July 2012|title=Deal with Liverpool to sign Mascherano|date=27 August 2010 |publisher=FC Barcelona|access-date=4 June 2011}}</ref> At the [[2010 FIFA World Cup|2010 World Cup]] in South Africa, Barcelona players that had graduated from the club's La Masia youth system would play a major role in Spain becoming world champions. On 11 July, seven players who came through the academy participated in the [[2010 FIFA World Cup Final|final]], six of whom were Barcelona players who started the match, with Iniesta scoring the winning goal against the Netherlands.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/spain/7895208/World-Cup-2010-Spains-battle-won-on-the-playing-fields-of-Barcelona.html |title=World Cup 2010: Spain's battle won on the playing fields of Barcelona |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=17 July 2010 |access-date=3 April 2018 |archive-date=26 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171026162650/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/spain/7895208/World-Cup-2010-Spains-battle-won-on-the-playing-fields-of-Barcelona.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In November 2010, Barcelona defeated their main rival Real Madrid 5–0 in ''[[El Clásico]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=10 años del Barcelona 5-0 Real Madrid: el culmen de Pep, el empujón de Cristiano, la expulsión de Sergio Ramos...|url=https://marca.com/futbol/primera-division/2020/11/29/5fc3818e268e3ec16c8b459f.html|publisher=[[Marca (newspaper)|MARCA]]|date=29 November 2020|access-date=3 August 2023|language=es|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230803025928/https://marca.com/futbol/primera-division/2020/11/29/5fc3818e268e3ec16c8b459f.html|archive-date=3 August 2023|url-status=live}}</ref> At the ceremony for the [[2010 FIFA Ballon d'Or]] in December, Barcelona's La Masia became the first youth academy ever to have all three finalists for the [[Ballon d'Or]], with Messi, Iniesta and Xavi being named the three best players in the world for 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/ballondor/archive/edition=1999902010/news/newsid=1362416/ |title=Messi, Marta, Mourinho and Neid crowned as the best of 2010 |date=10 January 2011 |publisher=FIFA |access-date=10 January 2012 |archive-date=3 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203014930/http://www.fifa.com/ballondor/archive/edition=1999902010/news/newsid=1362416/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> In the [[2010–11 FC Barcelona season|2010–11 season]], Barcelona retained the La Liga trophy, their third title in succession, finishing with 96 points.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/13368064.stm Barcelona secure La Liga Spanish title hat-trick] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319233856/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/13368064 |date=19 March 2012 }} BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 May 2011.</ref> In April 2011, the club reached the [[2011 Copa del Rey Final|Copa del Rey final]], losing 1–0 to Real Madrid at the [[Mestalla Stadium]] in [[Valencia]].<ref>[http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,19764,11065_3365041,00.html Madrid clinch Copa del Rey] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110423012003/http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0%2C19764%2C11065_3365041%2C00.html |date=23 April 2011 }} Sky Sports. Retrieved 30 May 2011.</ref> In May, Barcelona defeated Manchester United in the [[2011 UEFA Champions League Final|2011 Champions League Final]] 3–1 held at [[Wembley Stadium]], a repeat of the 2009 final, winning their fourth European Cup.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/13576522.stm |title=Barcelona 3–1 Man Utd |author=Phil McNulty |date=28 May 2011 |work=BBC Sport |access-date=30 May 2011 |archive-date=29 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110529112634/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/13576522.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> In August 2011, La Masia graduate [[Cesc Fàbregas]] was bought from Arsenal and he would help Barcelona defend the Spanish Supercup against Real Madrid. The Supercup victory brought the total number of official trophies to 73, matching the number of titles won by Real Madrid.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.marca.com/2011/08/17/futbol/equipos/barcelona/1313608792.html |title=El Barça iguala en títulos al Real Madrid |newspaper=Marca (newspaper) |location=Madrid |access-date=18 August 2011 |archive-date=19 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110819172658/http://www.marca.com/2011/08/17/futbol/equipos/barcelona/1313608792.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Later the same month, Barcelona won the UEFA Super Cup defeating [[FC Porto|Porto]] 2–0 with goals from Messi and Fàbregas. This extended the club's overall number of official trophies to 74, surpassing Real Madrid's total amount of official trophies.<ref>
{{cite news |url=http://www.sport.es/es/noticias/barca/2011/08/27/barca-madrid/1131109.shtml |title=El club azulgrana ya tiene más títulos que el Real |newspaper=Sport |location=Madrid |access-date=27 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120110150632/http://www.sport.es/es/noticias/barca/2011/08/27/barca-madrid/1131109.shtml |archive-date=10 January 2012 }}</ref> The Super Cup victory also saw Guardiola win his 12th trophy out of a possible 15 in his three years at the helm of the club, becoming the all-time record holder of most titles won as a coach at Barcelona.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sport.es/es/noticias/barca/20110827/pep-guardiola-supero-marca-johan-cruyff/1131117.shtml |title=Pep Guardiola superó la marca de Johan Cruyff |date=26 August 2011 |newspaper=Sport |location=Barcelona |access-date=26 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120709100016/http://www.sport.es/es/noticias/barca/20110827/pep-guardiola-supero-marca-johan-cruyff/1131117.shtml |archive-date=9 July 2012 }}</ref>

[[File:FC Barcelona Team 2, 2011.jpg|thumb|right|Barcelona celebrating their [[2011 FIFA Club World Cup]] win against [[Santos FC]]]]
In December, Barcelona won the [[FIFA Club World Cup|Club World Cup]] for a record second time since its establishment, after defeating 2011 [[Copa Libertadores]] holders [[Santos FC|Santos]] 4–0 in the [[2011 FIFA Club World Cup Final|final]] thanks to two goals from Messi and goals from Xavi and Fàbregas.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/detail/article/santos-fcb-legendary-barca-0-4|title=SANTOS-FCB: Legendary Barça (0–4)|date=18 December 2011|work=FC Barcelona|access-date=18 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111222010356/http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/detail/article/santos-fcb-legendary-barca-0-4|archive-date=22 December 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> As a result, the overall trophy haul during the reign of Guardiola was further extended and saw Barcelona win their 13th trophy out of a possible 16.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/detail/article/guardiola-winning-13-out-of-16-titles-is-only-possible-when-you-have-a-competitive-mentality|title=Guardiola: "Winning 13 out of 16 titles is only possible when you have a competitive mentality"|date=18 December 2011|work=FC Barcelona|access-date=18 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120108011751/http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/detail/article/guardiola-winning-13-out-of-16-titles-is-only-possible-when-you-have-a-competitive-mentality|archive-date=8 January 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/clubworldcup/matches/round=257437/match=300180901/summary.html|title=Santos humbled by brilliant Barcelona|date=18 December 2011|publisher=FIFA|access-date=18 December 2011|archive-date=6 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120106015231/http://www.fifa.com/clubworldcup/matches/round=257437/match=300180901/summary.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Considered by some in the sport to be the greatest team of all time, with Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson stating, ”They mesmerise you with their passing”,<ref name="Ferguson"/> their five trophies in 2011 saw them receive the [[Laureus World Sports Award for Team of the Year]].<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/news/2011-2012/laureus-award-tops-off-a-year-of-recognition | publisher = FC Barcelona | access-date = 24 October 2017 | title = Laureus Award tops off a year of recognition | first = Anna | last = Segura | date = 7 February 2012 | url-status=live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171024154021/https://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/news/2011-2012/laureus-award-tops-off-a-year-of-recognition | archive-date = 24 October 2017 }}</ref>

In the [[2011–12 FC Barcelona season|2011–12 season]], Barcelona lost the semi-finals of the Champions League against [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]]. Guardiola, who had been on a rolling contract and had faced criticism over his recent tactics and squad selections,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://video.uk.msn.com/watch/video/barca-not-tired/2i6en3os?cpkey=a70999a2-196d-4734-bf81-43688140eec8|title=Barca 'not tired' on MSN Video|publisher=MSN|access-date=29 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130507135809/http://video.uk.msn.com/watch/video/barca-not-tired/2i6en3os?cpkey=a70999a2-196d-4734-bf81-43688140eec8|archive-date=7 May 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/champions-league/9230314/Pep-Guardiolas-reign-in-Spain-was-coming-to-an-end-according-to-all-the-signs.html | newspaper=The Daily Telegraph | location=London | first=Pete | last=Jenson | title=Pep Guardiola's reign in Spain was coming to an end, according to all the signs | date=26 April 2012 | access-date=3 April 2018 | archive-date=2 May 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180502143006/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/champions-league/9230314/Pep-Guardiolas-reign-in-Spain-was-coming-to-an-end-according-to-all-the-signs.html | url-status=live }}</ref> announced that he would step down as manager on 30 June and be succeeded by assistant [[Tito Vilanova]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1055094/pep-guardiola-to-part-company-with-barcelona---reports?cc=5901 |title=Pep Guardiola to part company with Barcelona – reports |publisher=ESPN FC |date=26 April 2012 |access-date=29 November 2012 |archive-date=29 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120429170831/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1055094/pep-guardiola-to-part-company-with-barcelona---reports?cc=5901 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/chelsea/9222641/Barcelona-v-Chelsea-Pep-Guardiola-keeps-calm-as-Nou-Camp-critics-question-selection-and-tactics.html | newspaper=The Daily Telegraph | location=London | title=Barcelona v Chelsea: Pep Guardiola keeps calm as Nou Camp critics question selection and tactics | date=24 April 2012 | access-date=3 April 2018 | archive-date=14 June 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180614032011/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/chelsea/9222641/Barcelona-v-Chelsea-Pep-Guardiola-keeps-calm-as-Nou-Camp-critics-question-selection-and-tactics.html | url-status=live }}</ref> Guardiola finished his tenure with Barça winning the [[2011–12 Copa del Rey|Copa del Rey]] final 3–0, bringing the tally to 14 trophies that Barça had won under his coaching.<ref>{{cite news |title=Pep Guardiola's 14 trophies at Barcelona – in pictures |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/gallery/2012/apr/27/pep-guardiola-barcelona |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=25 October 2015 |access-date=11 December 2016 |archive-date=11 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211160938/https://www.theguardian.com/football/gallery/2012/apr/27/pep-guardiola-barcelona |url-status=live }}</ref>

It was announced in summer of 2012 that Tito Vilanova, assistant manager at Barcelona, would take over from Pep Guardiola as manager.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Tito Vilanova to replace Guardiola as Barcelona coach |url=https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/3277/la-liga/2012/04/27/3064195/tito-vilanova-to-replace-guardiola-as-barcelona-coach|access-date=2021-07-13|website=Goal|archive-date=2 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702141309/https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/3277/la-liga/2012/04/27/3064195/tito-vilanova-to-replace-guardiola-as-barcelona-coach|url-status=live}}</ref> Following his appointment, Barcelona went on an incredible run that saw them hold the top spot on the league table for the entire season, recording only two losses and amassing 100 points. Their top scorer once again was Lionel Messi, who scored 46 goals in La Liga, including two hat-tricks. On 11 May 2013, Barcelona were crowned as the Spanish football champions for the 22nd time, still with four games left to play. Ultimately, Barcelona ended the season 15 points clear of rivals Real Madrid, despite losing 2–1 to them at the beginning of March.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/detail/article/champions|title=Champions!|date=11 May 2013|access-date=11 May 2013|publisher=FC Barcelona|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607114411/http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/detail/article/champions|archive-date=7 June 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> They reached the semi-final stage of both the [[2012–13 Copa del Rey|Copa del Rey]] and the [[2012–13 Champions League|Champions League]], going out to Real Madrid and [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]] respectively. On 19 July, it was announced that Vilanova was resigning as Barcelona manager because his throat cancer had returned, and he would be receiving treatment for the second time after a three-month medical leave in December 2012.<ref>{{cite news|title=Tito Vilanova: Barcelona manager steps down through ill health|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/23376453|work=BBC Sport|date=9 February 2016|access-date=12 February 2018|archive-date=27 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150127184748/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23376453|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== 2014–2020: Bartomeu era ===
[[File:Luis Suarez FCB 2014.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Luis Suárez]] joined the club in 2014. Messi, Suárez and [[Neymar]], dubbed "MSN", formed a record-breaking strike force.]]
On 22 July 2013, [[Gerardo Martino|Gerardo "Tata" Martino]] was confirmed as manager of Barcelona for the [[2013–14 FC Barcelona season|2013–14 season]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.marca.com/2013/07/22/futbol/equipos/barcelona/1374511153.html|title='Tata' Martino ya es entrenador del Barcelona|last1=Brunatti|first1=Verónica|last2=Herrero|first2=Gemma|website=[[Marca (newspaper)|Marca]]|date=22 July 2013|language=es|access-date=16 February 2018|archive-date=23 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180123143220/http://www.marca.com/2013/07/22/futbol/equipos/barcelona/1374511153.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Barcelona won the [[2013 Supercopa de España]] 1–1 on away goals.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/aug/29/barcelona-super-cup-atletico-madrid-messi|title=Barcelona win Super Cup against Atlético despite Messi's penalty miss|work=The Guardian|agency=Associated Press|date=28 August 2013|access-date=16 October 2021|archive-date=21 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121010350/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/aug/29/barcelona-super-cup-atletico-madrid-messi|url-status=live}}</ref> On 23 January 2014, Sandro Rosell resigned as president by the admissibility of a complaint for alleged misappropriation following the transfer of [[Neymar]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/25866962|title=Barcelona president Sandro Rosell resigns amid Neymar transfer row|work=BBC Sport|date=23 January 2014|access-date=14 November 2021|archive-date=15 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115023342/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/25866962|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Josep Maria Bartomeu]] replaced him to finish the term.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bartomeu resigns as Barcelona president as entire board steps down|publisher=Goal|date=October 27, 2020|url=https://www.goal.com/en-us/news/bartomeu-resigns-as-barcelona-president-amid/1qsdlc84cj70x1rod8tgzgmlus|access-date=November 28, 2021|archive-date=29 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211129011837/https://www.goal.com/en-us/news/bartomeu-resigns-as-barcelona-president-amid/1qsdlc84cj70x1rod8tgzgmlus|url-status=live}}</ref>

Barcelona won the treble in the [[2014–15 FC Barcelona season|2014–15 season]], winning La Liga, Copa del Rey and Champions League titles, and became the first European team to have won the treble twice.<ref name="second treble">[http://www.espnfc.com/blog/the-match/60/post/2479474/johan-cruyffs-influence-barcelona-win-champions-league "Johan Cruyff's influence endures as Barcelona complete the 'double-treble"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150608172848/http://www.espnfc.com/blog/the-match/60/post/2479474/johan-cruyffs-influence-barcelona-win-champions-league |date=8 June 2015 }}. ''ESPN FC''. Retrieved 8 June 2015.</ref> On 17 May, the club clinched their 23rd La Liga title after defeating Atlético Madrid.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/detail/article/title-league-champions-fcbarcelona-atletico-madrid-2014-15|title=Barcelona are La Liga Champions|publisher=FC Barcelona|date=17 May 2015|access-date=17 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150519225125/http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/detail/article/title-league-champions-fcbarcelona-atletico-madrid-2014-15|archive-date=19 May 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> This was Barcelona's seventh La Liga title in the last ten years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/detail/article/fc-barcelona-s-seventh-league-title-in-ten-years|title=Seventh La Liga title in last ten years|publisher=FC Barcelona|date=17 May 2015|access-date=17 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150519110212/http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/detail/article/fc-barcelona-s-seventh-league-title-in-ten-years|archive-date=19 May 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> On 30 May, the club defeated Athletic Bilbao in the [[2014–15 Copa del Rey|Copa del Rey]] [[2015 Copa del Rey Final|final]] at Camp Nou.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/match-archive/2014-2015/copa-del-rey/final/athletic-club_fc-barcelona|title=Barca won 27th title of Copa Del Rey|publisher=FC Barcelona|date=30 May 2015|access-date=30 May 2015|archive-date=31 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150531023253/http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/match-archive/2014-2015/copa-del-rey/final/athletic-club_fc-barcelona/|url-status=live}}</ref> On 6 June, Barcelona won the [[2015 UEFA Champions League Final|2015 Champions League Final]] with a 3–1 win against [[Juventus FC|Juventus]], which completed the treble, the club's second in six years.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/champions-league/11652515/Champions-League-final-Juventus-vs-Barcelona-live.html |title=Barcelona crush Juventus in Champions League final: as it happened |date=6 June 2015 |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |access-date=8 June 2015 |archive-date=7 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150607180201/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/champions-league/11652515/Champions-League-final-Juventus-vs-Barcelona-live.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Barcelona's attacking trio of Messi, Suárez and Neymar, dubbed "MSN", scored 122 goals in all competitions, the most in a season for an attacking trio in Spanish football history.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jun/06/barcelona-luis-suarez-lionel-messi-juventus-champions-league-final|title=Barcelona's Luis Suárez, Leo Messi and Neymar too good for Juventus|date=6 June 2015|access-date=1 November 2015|newspaper=The Guardian|location=London|archive-date=12 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412234923/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jun/06/barcelona-luis-suarez-lionel-messi-juventus-champions-league-final|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 11 August, Barcelona started the [[2015–16 FC Barcelona season|2015–16]] season winning a joint record fifth European Super Cup by beating [[Sevilla FC|Sevilla]] 5–4 in the [[2015 UEFA Super Cup]]. They ended the year with a 3–0 win over Argentine club [[Club Atlético River Plate|River Plate]] in the [[2015 FIFA Club World Cup Final|2015 Club World Cup final]] on 20 December to win the trophy for a record third time, with Suárez, Messi and Iniesta the top three players of the tournament.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/detail/article/iniesta-messi-and-suarez-make-up-club-world-cup-podium|title=Iniesta, Messi and Suárez make up Club World Cup Podium|date=20 December 2015|publisher=FC Barcelona|access-date=7 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222193357/http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/detail/article/iniesta-messi-and-suarez-make-up-club-world-cup-podium|archive-date=22 December 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Club World Cup was Barcelona's 20th international title, a record only matched by Egyptian club [[Al Ahly SC|Al Ahly]].<ref>{{cite web |title=International Cups Trivia |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/intcuprec.html |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |access-date=1 February 2016 |archive-date=2 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201002003930/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/intcuprec.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title=FC Barcelona have the most international titles in world football| url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/detail/article/fc-barcelona-have-the-most-international-titles-in-world-football| publisher=FC Barcelona| date=23 December 2015| access-date=8 January 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151227085207/http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/detail/article/fc-barcelona-have-the-most-international-titles-in-world-football| archive-date=27 December 2015| url-status=dead| df=dmy-all}}</ref> By scoring 180 goals in 2015 in all competitions, Barcelona set the record for most goals scored in a calendar year, breaking Real Madrid's record of 178 goals scored in 2014.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/detail/article/180-goals-and-51-wins-in-a-record-breaking-2015|title=180 Goals and 51 Wins in a record breaking 2015|date=31 December 2015|publisher=FC Barcelona|access-date=7 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160104165240/http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/detail/article/180-goals-and-51-wins-in-a-record-breaking-2015|archive-date=4 January 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> On 10 February 2016, qualifying for the sixth Copa del Rey final in the last eight seasons, Luis Enrique's Barcelona broke the club's record of 28 consecutive games unbeaten in all competitions set by Guardiola's team in the 2010–11 season, with a 1–1 draw with Valencia in the second leg of the [[2015–16 Copa del Rey]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/detail/article/fc-barcelonas-unbeaten-run-in-10-facts|title=FC Barcelona's unbeaten run in 10 facts|date=11 February 2016|publisher=FC Barcelona|access-date=11 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160213073011/http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/detail/article/fc-barcelonas-unbeaten-run-in-10-facts|archive-date=13 February 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.espnfc.com/blog/five-aside/77/post/2804825/inside-the-numbers-of-barcelona-record-29-game-unbeaten-run|title=Inside the numbers of Barcelona's club-record 29-game unbeaten run|date=11 February 2016|work=ESPN FC|access-date=11 February 2016|archive-date=7 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201207102906/https://www.espn.com/soccer/|url-status=live}}</ref> With a 5–1 win at [[Rayo Vallecano]] on 3 March, Barcelona's 35th match unbeaten, the club broke Real Madrid's Spanish record of 34 games unbeaten in all competitions from the 1988–1989 season.<ref name="ESPN FC">{{cite web|url=http://www.espnfc.com/spanish-primera-division/story/2821259/barcelona-unbeaten-in-record-35-games-with-messi-hat-trick|title=Barcelona unbeaten in record 35 games, thanks to Leo Messi hat trick|work=ESPN FC|date=4 March 2016|access-date=4 March 2016|archive-date=14 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814022858/https://www.espn.com/soccer/spanish-primera-division/story/2821259/barcelona-unbeaten-in-record-35-games-with-messi-hat-trick|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/detail/article/a-new-record-35-games-unbeaten|title=A new record: 35 games unbeaten|publisher=FC Barcelona|date=3 March 2016|access-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304023008/http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/detail/article/a-new-record-35-games-unbeaten|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> After Barça reached 39 matches unbeaten, their run ended on 2 April 2016 with a 2–1 defeat to Real Madrid at Camp Nou.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thenational.ae/sport/primera-liga/cristiano-ronaldo-fires-late-winner-as-real-madrid-end-barcelonas-39-match-unbeaten-run|title=Cristiano Ronaldo fires late winner as Real Madrid end Barcelona's 39 match unbeaten run|date=3 April 2016|work=The National|access-date=16 May 2016|archive-date=4 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160604214825/http://www.thenational.ae/sport/primera-liga/cristiano-ronaldo-fires-late-winner-as-real-madrid-end-barcelonas-39-match-unbeaten-run|url-status=live}}</ref> On 14 May 2016, Barcelona won their sixth La Liga title in eight seasons.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/05/13/barcelona-and-real-madrid-la-liga-final-day-live/|title=14 May 2016|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|location=London|access-date=3 April 2018|archive-date=22 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122204624/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/05/13/barcelona-and-real-madrid-la-liga-final-day-live/|url-status=live}}</ref> The front three of Messi, Suárez and Neymar finished the season with 131 goals, breaking the record they had set the previous year for most goals by an attacking trio in a single season.<ref>{{cite news |title=Messi, Suárez and Neymar Jr end season with 131 goals |url=https://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/news/2015-2016/messi-suarez-and-neymar-jr-end-season-with-131-goals |access-date=9 August 2018 |agency=FC Barcelona |archive-date=5 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180805143526/https://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/news/2015-2016/messi-suarez-and-neymar-jr-end-season-with-131-goals |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 8 March 2017, Barcelona made the largest comeback in Champions League history in the [[2016–17 UEFA Champions League]] Round of 16 second Leg, defeating Paris Saint-Germain [[Barcelona 6–1 Paris Saint-Germain|6–1]] (aggregate score 6–5), despite losing the first leg in France by a score of 4–0.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.espn.co.uk/football/report?gameId=469090|title=Barcelona vs. Paris Saint-Germain – Football Match Report – March 8, 2017|publisher=ESPN|access-date=15 March 2017|archive-date=29 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229134950/https://www.espn.co.uk/football/report?gameId=469090|url-status=live}}</ref> On 29 May 2017, former player [[Ernesto Valverde]] was named as Luis Enrique's successor.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/news/2016-2017/ernesto-valverde-is-the-new-fc-barcelona-coach|title=Ernesto Valverde is the new FC Barcelona coach|access-date=29 July 2017|archive-date=30 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170730040232/https://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/news/2016-2017/ernesto-valverde-is-the-new-fc-barcelona-coach|url-status=live}}</ref> On 20 September 2017, Barcelona issued a statement exercising their stance on the [[2017 Catalan independence referendum|2017 Catalan referendum]] saying, "FC Barcelona, in holding the utmost respect for its diverse body of members, will continue to support the will of the majority of Catalan people, and will do so in a civil, peaceful, and exemplary way".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fcbarcelona.com/club/news/2017-2018/communique-fc-barcelona-20-09-2017|title=Official communique from FC Barcelona|access-date=20 September 2017|archive-date=20 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920210854/https://www.fcbarcelona.com/club/news/2017-2018/communique-fc-barcelona-20-09-2017|url-status=live}}</ref> The match against [[UD Las Palmas]] on the referendum day was requested to be postponed by the Barcelona board due to heavy violence in Catalonia, but it (the request) was declined by La Liga, therefore being held behind closed doors.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/7-most-remarkable-images-spooky-11270628|title=7 most bizarre images from Barcelona vs Las Palmas... played behind closed doors|last=Innes|first=Richard|date=1 October 2017|work=mirror|access-date=1 October 2017|archive-date=1 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171001214029/http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/7-most-remarkable-images-spooky-11270628|url-status=live}}</ref> Two directors, Jordi Monés and Carles Vilarrubí, handed in their resignations in protest at the game's being played.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2017/oct/02/barcelona-in-strange-and-symbolic-eye-of-a-storm-over-catalonia|title=Barcelona in the strange and symbolic eye of a storm over Catalonia |last=Lowe|first=Sid|date=2 October 2017|newspaper=The Guardian|location=London|access-date=2 October 2017|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=3 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171003030920/https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2017/oct/02/barcelona-in-strange-and-symbolic-eye-of-a-storm-over-catalonia|url-status=live}}</ref> Winning La Liga for the [[2017–18 FC Barcelona season|2017–18]] season, on 9 May 2018, Barcelona defeated Villarreal 5–1 to set the [[La Liga records and statistics#Games without a loss|longest unbeaten streak]] (43 games) in La Liga history.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/match-archive/2017-2018/la-liga/round-34/fc-barcelona-vila-real-cf|title=FC Barcelona 5–1 Villarreal CF: Record breakers |website=FC Barcelona|language=en-US|access-date=9 August 2018|archive-date=17 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180617172436/https://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/match-archive/2017-2018/la-liga/round-34/fc-barcelona-vila-real-cf|url-status=live}}</ref> On 27 April 2019, Barcelona won their 26th La Liga title.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/dcunited/messi-helps-barcelona-clinch-spanish-league-title/2019/04/27/84f90fbe-692d-11e9-a698-2a8f808c9cfb_story.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190427205444/https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/dcunited/messi-helps-barcelona-clinch-spanish-league-title/2019/04/27/84f90fbe-692d-11e9-a698-2a8f808c9cfb_story.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 April 2019 |title=Messi helps Barcelona clinch Spanish league title |newspaper=The Washington Post |first=Joseph |last=Wilson |date=27 April 2019 |access-date=17 July 2019 }}</ref> However, the La Liga title was overshadowed by an improbable [[2018–19 UEFA Champions League knockout phase#Semi-finals|Champions League exit]] to Liverpool in the semi-finals, with Barça losing the second leg 0–4 after being up 3–0 after a home victory.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/48163330|title=Tottenham & Liverpool: Greatest Champions League comebacks of all time|website=BBC Sport|date=9 May 2019|access-date=20 August 2020|archive-date=8 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108011002/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/48163330|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 13 January 2020, following the loss to Atlético Madrid in the [[2019–20 Supercopa de España|Spanish Supercup]], former [[Real Betis]] coach [[Quique Setién]] replaced Ernesto Valverde as the new head coach of Barcelona.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/news/1571121/quique-setien-is-the-new-coach-of-fc-barcelona|title=Quique Setién is the new coach of FC Barcelona|date=27 October 2020|publisher=FC Barcelona|access-date=25 May 2021|archive-date=4 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304064802/https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/news/1571121/quique-setien-is-the-new-coach-of-fc-barcelona|url-status=live}}</ref> Ultimately Barcelona finished the season trophyless for first time in 12 years. On 17 August, the club confirmed that Setién had been removed from his position as manager with [[director of football]] [[Eric Abidal]] also dismissed from his position.<ref>{{cite web |title=Agreement for the ending of Éric Abidal's contract |url=https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/news/1755204/agreement-for-the-ending-of-eric-abidals-contract |website=www.fcbarcelona.com |publisher=FC Barcelona |access-date=19 August 2020 |date=17 August 2020 |archive-date=4 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201104091327/https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/news/1755204/agreement-for-the-ending-of-eric-abidals-contract |url-status=live }}</ref> Two days later, [[Ronald Koeman]] was appointed as the new head coach of Barcelona.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ronald Koeman, the return of an FC Barcelona legend |url=https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/football/first-team/news/1755084/ronald-koeman-the-return-of-an-fc-barcelona-legend |website=www.fcbarcelona.com |publisher=FC Barcelona |access-date=19 August 2020 |date=19 August 2020 |archive-date=2 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201102090854/https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/football/first-team/news/1755084/ronald-koeman-the-return-of-an-fc-barcelona-legend |url-status=live }}</ref> Rising dissatisfaction among supporters due to worsening finances and decline on the pitch in the previous season led to Josep Maria Bartomeu announcing his resignation as president on 27 October 2020, to avoid facing a vote of no confidence from the club members.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/club/news/1878687/josep-maria-bartomeu-announces-the-resignation-of-the-board-of-directors|title=Josep Maria Bartomeu announces the resignation of the Board of Directors|date=27 October 2020|publisher=FC Barcelona|access-date=27 October 2020|archive-date=4 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201104154131/https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/club/news/1878687/josep-maria-bartomeu-announces-the-resignation-of-the-board-of-directors|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/54713209|title=Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu resigns|publisher=BBC Sport|date=27 October 2020|access-date=25 May 2021|archive-date=19 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419024956/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/54713209|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== 2021–present: Return of Laporta and post-Messi era ===
[[File:Fútbol Club Barcelona league performance 1929-present.svg|thumb|522x522px|Chart of Barcelona's league performance 1929–2023]]
On 7 March 2021, Joan Laporta was elected president of Barcelona with 54.28% of the vote.<ref>{{Cite news|agency=Reuters|date=7 March 2021|title=Joan Laporta is elected as Barcelona president for a second time|url=http://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/mar/07/joan-laporta-is-elected-as-barcelona-president-for-a-second-time|access-date=25 May 2021|newspaper=The Guardian|archive-date=25 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210525154429/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/mar/07/joan-laporta-is-elected-as-barcelona-president-for-a-second-time|url-status=live}}</ref> Barcelona won their 31st Copa del Rey, their only trophy under Ronald Koeman, after defeating Athletic Bilbao 4–0 in the [[2021 Copa del Rey Final|final]].<ref>{{Cite web|author=Lowe, Sid|date=7 March 2021|title=Messi stars as Barcelona thrash Athletic Bilbao to lift Copa del Rey|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/apr/17/messi-stars-as-barcelona-thrash-athletic-bilbao-to-lift-copa-del-rey|access-date=25 May 2021|website=The Guardian|language=en|archive-date=28 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210428210144/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/apr/17/messi-stars-as-barcelona-thrash-athletic-bilbao-to-lift-copa-del-rey|url-status=live}}</ref> In August 2021 Barcelona found themselves unable to comply with La Liga's Financial Fair Play requirements, and revealed a club debt of €1.35bn and a wage bill accounting for 103% of total income. Negotiations with Lionel Messi, now in the final year of his contract, had been ongoing for some time. However, on 5 August 2021, Barcelona announced that they would be unable to re-sign Messi to an extension due to La Liga regulations. This was despite the fact that the club and Messi had reached an agreement over the details of a new contract. Messi departed the club after 21 years as a Barça player, and the club's all-time leading goalscorer, and signed on a free transfer with French club [[Paris Saint-Germain]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/58235195|title=Barcelona president Joan Laporta reveals club debt stands at £1.15bn|publisher=BBC Sport|date=16 August 2021|access-date=28 May 2022|archive-date=1 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221201081730/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/58235195|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/noticies/2207655/leo-messi-no-seguira-lligat-al-fc-barcelona|title=Leo Messi not staying at FC Barcelona|publisher=FC Barcelona|date=5 August 2021|access-date=16 July 2022|archive-date=1 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221201081726/https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/noticies/2207655/leo-messi-no-seguira-lligat-al-fc-barcelona|url-status=live}}</ref> The financial implications also restricted Barcelona in the transfer market and as a result most of the incoming players were either free transfers or loans and they had to reduce players' wages to register the incoming players.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/58404657|title=Barcelona sign Sevilla's Luuk de Jong as Antoine Griezmann rejoins Atletico Madrid|publisher=BBC Sport|date=1 September 2021|access-date=28 May 2022|archive-date=28 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220528134919/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/58404657|url-status=live}}</ref>

Poor performances in [[2021–22 La Liga|La Liga]] and the [[2021–22 UEFA Champions League|Champions League]] led to the sacking of Ronald Koeman on 28 October, with a club legend [[Xavi (footballer, born 1980)|Xavi]] replacing him.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/football/first-team/news/2311932/ronald-koeman-relieved-of-his-duties-as-first-team-coach|title=Ronald Koeman relieved of his duties as first team coach|publisher=FC Barcelona|date=27 October 2021|access-date=28 May 2022|archive-date=1 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221201081730/https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/football/first-team/news/2311932/ronald-koeman-relieved-of-his-duties-as-first-team-coach|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/football/first-team/news/2328587/xavi-hernandez-is-the-new-fc-barcelona-coach|title=Xavi Hernández is the new FC Barcelona coach|publisher=FC Barcelona|date=6 November 2021|access-date=28 May 2022|archive-date=6 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211106005657/https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/football/first-team/news/2328587/xavi-hernandez-is-the-new-fc-barcelona-coach|url-status=live}}</ref> Xavi could not reverse the fortunes in the Champions League, and Barcelona dropped down to the [[2021–22 UEFA Europa League|Europa League]] for the first time since [[2003–04 FC Barcelona season|2003–04]], subsequently exiting in the quarter-finals.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/59587194|title=Bayern Munich 3-0 Barcelona: Barca out of Champions League and drop down to Europa League|publisher=BBC Sport|date=8 December 2021|access-date=28 May 2022|archive-date=17 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220317170036/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/59587194|url-status=live}}</ref> In the domestic league, Xavi improved Barça's form and guided them from ninth to second, guaranteeing a Champions League spot next season. However, this also meant Barcelona finished trophyless after earlier Supercopa and Copa del Rey exits.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/61545978|title=Barcelona 0-2 Villarreal: Barca end on lowest La Liga points haul since 2008|publisher=BBC Sport|date=22 May 2022|access-date=28 May 2022|archive-date=28 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220528114726/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/61545978|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 15 January 2023, Xavi guided Barcelona to their first trophy since the [[2020–21 Copa del Rey|2021 Copa del Rey]], as the Catalans defeated Real Madrid 3–1 in the [[2022–23 Supercopa de España|Supercopa de España]] [[2023 Supercopa de España Final|final]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2023/01/16/football/barcelona-spanish-super-cup-real-madrid-spt-intl/index.html|title=Barcelona wins Spanish Super Cup after beating Real Madrid 3-1 in final hosted by Saudi Arabia|author=Ben Church|publisher=[[CNN]]|date=16 January 2023|access-date=23 March 2023|archive-date=20 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320101637/https://edition.cnn.com/2023/01/16/football/barcelona-spanish-super-cup-real-madrid-spt-intl/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On 14 May 2023, Barcelona mathematically clinched their [[2022–23 La Liga|27th league title]] with four games to spare, the first in the post-Messi era.<ref>{{cite news |date=14 May 2023 |title=Barcelona win La Liga title for first time since 2019 |url=https://theathletic.com/4506269/2023/05/14/barcelona-la-liga-champions/ |access-date=14 May 2023 |website=[[The Athletic]]}}</ref>