On June 12th 1963, thousands packed the Camp Nou to watch FC Barcelona play Santos FC of Brazil in a friendly , and in particular one player called Edson Arantes do Nascimento Pelé. A year earlier, Santos had won the Brazil Cup, the Campeonato Paulista, the Copa Libertadores and the Intercontinental Cup.The Brazilian national side won the World Cup that same year. In the following season, Santos went on to win the Copa Brazil, the Libertadores and the Intercontinental Cup once again.At the Camp Nou, Barca won 2-0 and yet Santos hung on to its reputation as the best team in the world, with Pelé, aged 22, already regarded as the best player in the world.
Fast forward to today’s game between the two teams at Japan’s Yokohama Stadium . No friendly this one, but the final of Fifa’s Club World Cup. Barca beat Santos 4-0 after dominating a match, in which Barca are confirmed the best club in the world, and Messi, aged 24, the best player in the world, supported that is with a largely home-grown team of extroardinary collective skill and talent. As for Santos, this was a poor performance , not least by the aspiring new superstar Neymar who seemed utterly overwhelmed and out played by the boys from Catalonia. No wonder FC Barcelona thinks it can draw on their native reserves while Villa recovers. We shall see.
Come on Jimmy, if Santos are from Brazil, then Barcelona are from Spain!
Lets keep some journalistic integrity and keep nationalisitic tendencies to one side, please.
Especially as most of the “boys” that play for the Spanish club, were not even born in Catalunia, but come from: Argentina (2), Brazil, Italy, France + Alabcete, Tenerife, etc.!
Maybe if Barça ever get to win as many Club World Cups as Madrid have, then you could call yourself the best club in the world…
C’mon Captain
Don’t live in the past, look to the future. Real Madrid obviously had their time no doubt about it. Barcelona may not have many unearthed diamonds from Catalonia but they are developing them and they are the main reason why the Spanish national team will win trophies for years to come. unlike Chelsea, Manchester city who buy players with experience from every corner of the world, Barcelona has proved to the world they can survive with one or two signings per year. as for Real, i think mourinho is secretly in the shrewd process building his Portuguese squad.
Learn to appreciate and only then will the sun shine in your backyard.