Barcelona full-back Gerard Martin has experienced a remarkable rise within the club over the past year. The young defender made his debut for Spain’s U-21 team last Friday, marking yet another milestone in his journey.
In less than a year, he has transitioned from playing in the First RFEF with Barcelona’s reserve team to becoming a key part of Hansi Flick’s first-team squad.
Since breaking into the senior team, Martin has made 26 appearances for the first team, contributing one goal and two assists.
While he has only started nine matches, he has accumulated 939 minutes of playing time, which is a significant achievement considering the level of competition within the squad.
At the beginning of the season, few would have expected him to get this many opportunities, but he has proven to be a reliable option whenever called upon.
Martin’s all-time Barcelona XI
With club football on hold due to the international break, Barcelona took the opportunity to share a special moment with Martin.
🔥 𝗚𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶́𝗻 reveals his Top 11 👀
Puyol, Iniesta, Xavi, Ronaldinho… Discover which Barça legends he has chosen 💙❤️ pic.twitter.com/TAU151PUsK
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) March 22, 2025
The club revealed what is considered to be Martin’s dream starting XI—a team featuring some of the biggest legends in Barcelona’s modern history.
His selection included Víctor Valdes in goal, with Gerard Pique, Carles Puyol, and Jordi Alba forming the defensive line.
In midfield, he picked Andres Iniesta, Xavi, Sergio Busquets, and Ronaldinho, while the attack featured the iconic trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Neymar.
This lineup consists of players who played a major role in Barcelona’s dominance over the last two decades, making it an understandable choice for someone who grew up watching these legends in action.
Martin’s journey at Barcelona is still in its early stages, but he has already shown that he has the potential to be a long-term asset for the club.
With continued development and opportunities, he could become a key figure in Barcelona’s defence for years to come.
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