Where Are They Now? Barcelona’s 2015 FIFA Club World Cup final XI

The FIFA Club World Cup fever is soaring high amongst the fans with less than 24 hours left before it begins. The revamped tournament promises to offer more than the annual competition ever did. The tournament will now accommodate 32 teams in the new Champions League format. The best part is the capping on the number of countries participating from a country, making it an inclusive tournament. 

Amidst all these, the Argentinian superstar, Lionel Messi, has grabbed all the attention. He is one of the few players who is living his longevity at the finest. He won the last FIFA Club World Cup in 2015 with Barcelona. 

In this article, we shall look at the Barcelona players who were on the field in the 2015 FIFA Club World Cup finals against River Plate in Japan: 

Goalkeeper

1. Claudio Bravo: The Chilean international had fallen behind in the pecking order as Marc-Andre ter Stegen was a preferred goalkeeping choice of Luis Enrique. However, he got the nod to start the Club World Cup final. He moved to Manchester City later but returned to the La Liga in 2020 where he donned the Real Betis jersey. He announced his retirement last year from the sport. 

Defenders: 

2. Dani Alves: One of the finest players in the history of football and a servant of Barcelona, Dani Alves was convicted of rape and sentenced to 4.5 years in prison. However, he was later released on bail after paying €1 million. 

3. Gerard Pique: Gerard Pique announced his retirement midway through the 2022/23 campaign after a poor form affected his place in the starting lineup. Post-retirement, he continues to have an active media presence with entrepreneurship leading the way for him. He is also the president of the Kings League and the owner of the Spanish second-tier club, Andorra. 

4. Javier Mascherano: The Argentine international continues to work in football but has moved onto the strategic side of things. He went on to manage and coach Argentina Under-20s and Under-23s before landing the Inter Miami job in 2024. He is now coaching his former Barcelona teammates in the US. 

5. Jordi Alba: One of the finest fullbacks of the generation, Jordi Alba is still a starter at 36 in Major League Soccer. He dons Inter Miami jersey with his former Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, and Luis Suarez. 

Midfielders: 

6. Sergio Busquets: In 2023, when Lionel Messi made his move from Paris St Germain to Inter Miami, one more player followed suit. It was the La Masia graduate, Sergio Busquets. He made over 100 appearances alongside the Argentine international. Currently, he leads the midfield for Inter Miami. 

7. Andrés Iniesta: Donning the Catalonian colors in 2015, Andrés Iniesta waved an emotional goodbye to his fans and players seven years ago. Ever since then, Andrés Iniesta has played across the globe. He initially made 100 appearances for Vissel Kobe, a Japanese outfit, before finishing his career at Emirates FC. Though there were rumors of him moving to Miami to rejoin the band, it did not come through. He is currently pursuing his coaching badges and is rumored to join Barcelona Academy to pursue his career in management. 

8. Ivan Rakitić: The player moved to Sevilla for his second stint in 2020 after he enjoyed six years at Barcelona. He won the second Europa League of his career after he won it for the first time in his first season. Later, he joined Al-Shabab on a lucrative deal before moving to Croatian giants Hajduk Split in 2024. He is going strong with them even at 37.

Forwards: 

9. Neymar Jr: The player who once ruled the world on the left flank, Neymar Jr, broke all transfer records when he joined Paris Saint-Germain in 2017. That move marked the beginning of an era of transfer mayhem, where clubs began demanding astronomical fees. After his spell at PSG, he moved to the Middle East, where he once again failed to impress. Amidst his struggles, he canceled his contract with Al-Hilal and returned to his boyhood club, Santos. With recent improvements in form, he is now on the path to resurrecting his career and is reportedly close to a return to the national team squad.

10. Luis Suarez: When Barcelona had to part ways with Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi had lashed out online. However, Suarez did not forget to show his class. He moved to Atletico Madrid and registered the La Liga trophy before making his move to Nacional and Gremio. He is reunited again with Lionel Messi at Inter Miami, linking up and scoring goals for fun. 

11. Lionel Messi: When it seemed like Lionel Messi would retire with the Catalonian outfit he had represented throughout his career, Barcelona's financial troubles prevented the renewal of his contract. He then moved to Paris Saint-Germain, where he won Ligue 1 titles but failed to secure the Champions League. After his contract expired, Messi joined Inter Miami, and the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner is now set to feature in the revamped FIFA Club World Cup.