La Masia ranks second, with a surprising club taking the top spot

Barcelona's renowned La Masia academy holds the second spot in the global ranking of top football academies, while the first place unexpectedly goes to Benfica.

The legendary La Masia academy of Barcelona has long been regarded as the cradle of football legends. Icons like Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, and Xavi Hernandez all emerged from this training ground, helping to build the golden era of the Catalan giants. Recently, the next generation including Lamine Yamal, Fermin Lopez, and Alejandro Balde have continued to uphold La Masia's reputation for nurturing young talent.

However, according to the latest study by the CIES Football Observatory, this prestigious academy has lost its top position in the world rankings, with Benfica from Portugal rising to claim first place.

According to the CIES Football Training Index, Benfica currently has 93 academy-trained players competing across 49 top-tier leagues worldwide. On average, each player has played 2,582 minutes over the past 12 months. Meanwhile, Barcelona's La Masia follows closely behind with 76 players, averaging 2,773 minutes played during the same period.

CIES explains that the ranking is based on three main criteria: the number of trained players, the level of the clubs they represent, and the official playing time in the previous year. These factors reflect not only the quality of coaching but also the players' adaptability and success in elite football environments.

Although no longer the top-ranked academy, La Masia still demonstrates enduring strength under coach Hansi Flick. In the most recent Champions League match, Barcelona fielded seven players developed in their own academy, including Lamine Yamal, Fermin Lopez, Pau Cubarsí, Alejandro Balde, Eric Garcia, Marc Casadó, and Dro Fernandez. Their presence highlights that La Masia’s legacy remains deeply embedded in the Blaugrana squad.

After more than four decades, La Masia is more than just a football academy; it symbolizes the philosophy of “playing with intelligence” and the spirit of Catalonia. Although temporarily surpassed by Benfica in the rankings, the influence and value La Masia brings to world football remain unmatched by most academies.