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Where are they now? The Barcelona XI that won 2015 Champions League

Joe Sargent •

Luis Enrique steered Barcelona to the club’s second treble-winning season in 2014-15 with a 3-1 victory over Juventus in the Champions League final in Berlin.

Following success on the domestic stage – already triumphing in La Liga and the Copa del Rey earlier on in that campaign – Enrique capped off a remarkable first year in the Camp Nou dugout in Europe’s elite competition.

A second-half showing of class proved pivotal against the Italian titans, as Luis Suarez and Neymar turned on the style to both score, ensuring Barca became the first team to complete the treble twice.

The current Spain boss replicated the achievement of his compatriot Pep Guardiola, who accomplished the same feat in Catalonia six years prior.

We’ve taken a closer look at what became of the side that confirmed a heroic achievement by overcoming Massimiliano Allegri’s side in the showpiece final in June 2015.

Marc-Andre ter Stegen

Ter Stegen joined Barcelona in 2014 and has developed into a great replacement for club legend Victor Valdes, who left the club as the Blaugrana’s greatest goalkeeper of all-time.

If it wasn’t for the small matter of Bayern Munich ‘keeper Manuel Neuer also being German, you’d fancy Ter Stegen would also be a star for his national team.

Under Xaxi Hernandez’s new regime, the 29-year-old appears to remain a key part of the Spanish giants’ rebuild plans as the club looks to return to the trophy-winning ways Ter Stegen was so often involved in previously.

Dani Alves

The Brazilian full-back starred in Guardiola’s revered treble-winning side in the late 2000s and was once again a world-class operator in the Enrique team that achieved the same feat.

Alves registered 11 assists in 2014-15 – his service akin to what you’d ordinarily expect to see at the Ritz. The 38-year-old made a remarkable return to Barcelona in 2022 after six years away where he played for Juventus, PSG and Sao Paulo.

Even in the twilight of his career, Alves continues to light up Camp Nou with his attacking skills and entertaining personality.

Gerard Pique

Victory in Berlin marked a third Champions League crown for the Spain international. Pique’s Barcelona career has been a roaring success ever since he returned to the Catalan club in 2008 following a difficult spell under Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.

The defender’s list of honours is extensive both at club and international level; he’s won almost every trophy there is to win. Despite his powers waning somewhat in Barca’s current crop, the legendary figure remains an important leader for the club.

He may even have the opportunity to add a new trophy to his collection should Xavi guide his team to a Europa League win in the 2021-22 season.

Gerard Pique celebrates with his Barcelona team-mates. Camp Nou, March 2009.

READ: The highs & lows that made Pique go from Man Utd outcast to Barca icon

Javier Mascherano

Mascherano racked up 334 appearances for Barcelona but this match was probably his most memorable when the former Argentina international reflects on a fruitful near-decade stay in Spain.

As was so often the case at Barca, Mascherano was used as a centre-back by Enrique against Juventus. This was a position he flourished in following Guardiola’s decision to convert him from the tenacious defensive midfielder we saw at Liverpool.

After retiring in 2020 following a spell in China, Mascherano was appointed Argentina Under-20’s head coach in December 2021, where he remains to this day.

Jordi Alba 

Like Pique, Alba was another player who returned to Barca. After being deemed “too small” as a youth player, the Spain international joined Valencia before the Catalan side snapped up his signature again in 2012.

The left-back has currently won 15 titles at Barca – the Champions League the most prestigious – and even at 33, Alba is still a mainstay in the new-look side former team-mate Xavi is building at the Camp Nou.

Sergio Busquets

“I’d find it very hard to go elsewhere in Europe and play for a team that’s chasing the same things as Barca,” the legendary Spanish midfielder said in 2022.

The treble-winning campaign under Enrique was just one of an array of successful seasons Busquets has enjoyed since the one-club man broke into Barcelona’s first team in 2008.

His technical ability is unsurpassed, and this is why the 33-year-old has amassed countless appearances over the course of his ongoing career for club and country.

Ivan Rakitic (Jeremy Mathieu, ’90+1 )

Rakitic netted 37 goals for Barcelona before returning to Sevilla, a club where he first made his name as one of the most talented midfielders in Europe.

But his most important strike in a largely successful spell in Catalonia came in the final win over Juventus. Rakitic opened the scoring at the Olympiastadion in the fourth minute, converting from close range after Andres Iniesta found him in oceans of space inside the Juve area.

The Croatia international did later fall out of favour at Barcelona but is now a fundamental component in Julen Lopetegui’s Sevilla team.

In contrast, Mathieu’s Barcelona career was a more forgettable experience. After signing from Valencia, he struggled to establish himself in the side in his three-year stay before pursuing a new challenge at Sporting Lisbon.

“I felt alone in the locker room [at Barcelona], no one supported me, and for me, this is not football,” Mathieu said on his time at Barca.

Mathieu, who was capped by France five times, currently plays in his homeland for semi-professional outfit Luynes Sports.

Andres Iniesta (Xavi, 78)

Widely regarded as one of the greatest midfielders of all time, Iniesta appeared 669 times for Barcelona over an 18-season period.

The former Spain international provided a key contribution in Guardiola’s Champions League-winning side in 2009 when he scored the decisive goal to secure progression over Chelsea in the semi-final. And his assist for Rakitic in the 2015 final was a moment of genius we saw him serve up time after time.

Iniesta left Barca in 2018 to join Vissel Kobe and continues to play for the Japanese side, but he might soon be making a return to the place where he’s unequivocally adored.

“I would love to return to Barcelona. I would like to help the institution. There are many variables involved and it is difficult to know what will happen in the future,” Iniesta said in February 2022.

Xavi made his 767th and final Barcelona appearance in that win over Juventus. We’re not sure what he’s up to these days though…

Barcelona manager Xavi sits on the bench during the game against Valencia on February 20, 2022 at the Mestalla Stadium.

READ: ‘A complete team’ – What people have said about Xavi’s Barcelona

Lionel Messi

Pretty much all has been said that can be about arguably the greatest player of all time. Surprisingly Barca’s record goalscorer didn’t find the target in his side’s win in Berlin, but that was only one of a few times that the Argentina international wasn’t the star of the show for the Blaugrana.

It still doesn’t feel right seeing Messi donning a PSG shirt. It’s been the first time in his glistening career where his performances haven’t amazed weekly.

Luis Suarez (Pedro, ’90+6)

Messi labelled it “madness” when Suarez was let go by Barca to join La Liga rivals Atletico Madrid in 2020; a side where the Uruguay international still stars under Diego Simeone.

The striker scored an incredible 198 goals in 283 games during his six years at Barcelona and left the Camp Nou as the club’s third-highest leading scorer.

His partnership with Messi and Neymar up top was formidable – arguably one of the best forward trios we’ve ever seen.

Pedro was forced to play second-fiddle to MSN under Enrique – his best time at the club came under Guardiola – and he left to join Chelsea in the summer of 2015.

At 34, the Spanish winger is now playing in Serie A for Lazio.

Neymar 

The Brazil international enjoyed four brilliant years at Barcelona and scored their third goal in injury-time in the 2015 Champions League final.

He moved to PSG in 2017 to be out of Messi’s shadow but his time in Paris has yet to go to plan. His signing was supposed to propel the French side to a European title of their own, but this trophy still eludes PSG.

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