11.07.2010 23:12
Nine homegrown champions
Roger Bogunyà / Jesús Carrillo
Nine players from CF Barcelona’s famed youth academy have helped Spain to win the World Cup on Sunday night as they defeated Holland to lift the trophy for the first time.
La Masia has produced a host of stars in recent seasons and now Víctor Valdés, Pepe Reina, Carles
Puyol, Gerard Piqué, Sergio Busquets, Xavi, Andrés iniesta, Cesc Fàbregas and Pedro have all
reached the highest level in the game.
From the fourth tier: Pedro, 23, and Busquets, 22, were both playing in La
Tercera (the Spanish fourth división) just two years ago and have risen with incredible speed to
become world champions.
Full house of medals: Three Barça players have now won every trophy
available to them with Xavi; Iniesta and Puyol having added to the European Championships and the
six triumphs with Barça last year.
Double glory: Xavi, Iniesta and Puyol are the only three Barça players to
have won the European Championships in 2008 and the World Cup in 2010.