Has Barcelona Played a Role in Spain’s Recent Football Resurgence? A Data Analysis

It’s quite astonishing to think that 15 years have flown by since Spain lifted the World Cup trophy in South Africa.

Flanked by majestic triumphs in the European Championship, this era is often dubbed a golden period for Spanish football.

During this remarkable time, Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona were also experiencing significant success. With an array of talents such as Carles Puyol, Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets, David Villa, Pedro, Andres Iniesta, and Xavi in their prime, their impact on the fortunes of La Roja was unmistakable.

Indeed, all seven players featured in the final against the Netherlands, even though Villa had not yet played competitively for the Blaugranes at that time.

By the time they triumphed in the 2012 European Championship against Italy, Cesc Fabregas had joined the club where he had earlier made a name for himself as a youth. Additionally, Jordi Alba, who scored in a stunning 4-0 victory, transferred directly to Barcelona post-tournament.

It’s rare for a single club to exert such a profound influence on a national team that is regarded among the elites in world football.

Fast forward to today, and Barcelona’s revival under Hansi Flick hints at a renewed interest from the Spanish management in the progress of the Catalan club.

Spain will soon face the Netherlands once again, this time in a two-legged quarter-final of the UEFA Nations League, aiming to defend a title they won back in 2023.

Barcelona could have fielded seven players in the current Spain squad

“A key factor is the rise of young talents such as Lamine Yamal (the standout Spanish player), Pau Cubarsi, and Gavi. Dani Olmo’s addition has provided Barcelona with an uptick in quality, and Spain is fortunate that they all play together at the same club.”

“Clearly, the mastermind behind this is Hansi Flick, who has instilled a sense of competitiveness within his squad. Xavi, unfortunately, didn’t manage to extract the best from them.”

“The squad could have been even more extensive. Inigo Martinez was omitted due to a bout of internal parameniscitis in his right knee, and Marc Casado is dealing with a partial tear of his lateral ligament.”

“De la Fuente holds Gavi in high regard, so much so that he was present at the recent European Championship final in Berlin, despite his injury. He is gradually returning to form, and Alejandro Balde, who has been excelling at left-back, is another player likely to rejoin the national setup.”

Marc Bernal, a 17-year-old defensive midfielder, began the 2024/25 season impressively with Barcelona until a knee injury halted his campaign prematurely. He will also be keen to catch the attention of the national selectors in due time.

While the visual spectacle provided by Barcelona’s players this season is apparent, do the statistics point towards a resurgence of Blaugranes in the national team?

Scoring-wise, the answer is a resounding no. In the current Nations League, only Ferran Torres has found the back of the net, his lone effort being one of just 12 recorded goals for La Roja in the tournament thus far.

Barcelona players do perform slightly better when it comes to assists, with Torres, Dani Olmo, and Lamine Yamal each providing one, contributing to a total of seven assists for the team.

In terms of passing accuracy, a hallmark of Barcelona’s playstyle, only Ferran is likely to feel let down. His completion rate of 64.3% is noticeably the lowest among all Spanish players, with everyone else from Barca achieving at least 80%. Pau Cubarsi stands out with an outstanding 97.6% accuracy, making him the most accurate passer in the squad.

Interestingly, Lamine Yamal’s crossing ability has drawn attention, with a dismal success rate of just 21.4%.

As opponents begin to double up on him—an adjustment already seen in LaLiga—he will need his full range of skills to maintain his influential role for the national team as he does for his club. Improved movement from teammates could further facilitate Lamine’s play, allowing him to cut inside and change the attack angle, potentially unlocking more opportunities.

After all, he is the one player likely to cause havoc in opposition defences, even at his tender age.

Lamine’s impact becomes evident when considering the number of duels he has faced this season—40, the highest among any Spanish player—though there’s room for improvement as his success rate sits at 60%.

Interestingly, Marc Casado, who has participated in only 17 duels—while Lamine has engaged in 40—has been impressive, winning 82.3% of his challenges, the highest ratio among his peers. Hence, his injury is a significant loss for the squad.

Barcelona players are also thriving in ball recovery statistics.

Barcelona’s impact on the national team not as pronounced today

Lamine’s 15 and Pedri’s 13 recoveries rank among Spain’s top, while Olmo’s seven and six apiece from Cubarsi and Casado are commendable within the squad context. Ferran’s solitary recovery, however, is an area needing attention at this stage.

Notably, no Barcelona player has logged more minutes than Lamine’s 224 in this season’s Nations League.

Casado’s 110 minutes render his achievements in various aspects even more commendable, while Pedri and Dani Olmo have played 218 and 152 minutes, respectively. Pau Cubarsi’s 98 minutes and Ferran’s 53-minute stint are minuscule compared to the likes of Aymeric Laporte (450 minutes), Fabian Ruiz (447), and Martin Zubimendi (371), who have all racked up significantly more time on the pitch.

While Barcelona’s influence on the current Spain squad isn’t quite as strong today as it was a decade and a half ago, no other club can claim more players in the national team at present, indicating a clear lean towards the Catalans in terms of squad composition.

Only time will tell if La Roja can successfully contend for the Nations League and strive once again for the cherished status of World Cup champions… and whether the Barcelona effect will be integral to achieving that aim.