Hello all, welcome back to the blog. Predictions are a tough thing. I remember back in 2020, when I first heard of Victor Wembanyama, saying that he’d become the next big thing. I also remember in 2022, just before the start of the 2022/23 season, predicting that by the summer of 2023, Ansu Fati would be on the same perch as guys like Jamal Musiala and Jude Bellingham. So, it’s tough. Well, here’s my chance to have some of the best – and some of the worst – predictions I’ve ever made. I’m going to predict the squad of FC Barcelona at the start of the 2030/31 season. It’ll be tough. Robert Lewandowski will be 42 years old. Marc-Andre Ter Stegen will be 38. So, we’ll have to take a look through the Barcelona team and see, who will the big players be? Who’ll be in there? Let’s take a look.
Goalkeepers
Marc-Andre Ter Stegen
Age in 2030: 38
Current Club: Barcelona
Position: GK
Nation: Germany
Yep, here I am predicting Marc-Andre Ter Stegen to still be holding the position between the sticks at the ripe old age of 38. He’ll practically be geriatric by then. However, this is the safest prediction in my opinion, and it’s not unheard of. Manuel Neuer is still holding the #1 for Bayern at the same age, and Ter Stegen will just be in his last few years at Barca by this point, approaching 700 matches played for Barca, and being Barca’s goalkeeper with the most appearances in their history.
Max Bonfill
Age in 2030: 23
Current Club: Barcelona
Position: GK
Nation: Spain
Currently 17, I believe Max Bonfill will be in the current Inaki Pena role in 2030. After considering names such as Ander Astralaga, Diego Kochen, and Aron Yaakobishvili for the role, I believe they’re all too old in 2030 to hold this role. After Inaki Pena leaves the club in 2025 or 2026, there’ll be a revolving door of goalkeepers in this role, or perhaps Barca makes a Neto/Cilessen type signing as a stop gap for a couple years, but whatever happens, it’ll end with Bonfill in this role.
Pablo Pena
Age in 2030: 20
Current Club: Barcelona
Position: GK
Nation: Spain
No connection to Inaki, Pablo Pena is still bouncing around the Barca youth teams at 14 years old, but I feel he’s pretty good to be in this role in 2030. Barca’s third choice usually isn’t too much older than 20, and I see Pena getting a lot of time with the B-Team as well as having this role, similar to Arnau Tenas.
Hector Fort
Age in 2030: 23
Current Club: Barcelona
Position: RB
Nation: Spain
While Fort may be a risky bet to some to become the future of the RB position, I’ve seen what I need to. He seems mature for his age, and just needs to fine tune his game and the position is his. Captaining the youth teams for a long time, Fort seems like a really good leadership figure to have for Barca in the future.
Mateu Morey
Age in 2030: 30
Current Club: Mallorca
Position: RB
Nation: Spain
After a 4-year spell with the club as a teenager, I see Mateu Morey rejoining Barcelona later on in his career, after a revival with Mallorca. He’ll be one of those Alonso/Romeu type signings, which I’ll hate, but is at least a depth player.
Guiu Xucla
Age in 2030: 20
Current Club: Barcelona
Position: RB
Nation: Spain
While I’m sort of mad at the name Guiu right now, I believe Xucla is the best fit to become a right back in and around the first team by 2030. He’s been great for the youth team at lower age levels, and will eventually get into the first team.
Pau Cubarsi
Age in 2030: 23
Current Club: Barcelona
Position: CB
Nation: Spain
Pau Cubarsi has drawn comparisons to some of the great Barcelona homegrown centerbacks of the past, players like Pique, Puyol, and those comparisons are warranted in my opinion. Within 3-4 years he’ll be the best centerback at Barca, and striking a wall of a centerback pairing with Ronald Araujo.
Ronald Araujo
Age in 2030: 31
Current Club: Barcelona
Position: CB
Nation: Spain
The warrior of Rivera, despite injury setbacks, I don’t see Ronald Araujo going anywhere. He can form a potentially legendary duo with Pau Cubarsi, and he’ll be one of those guys that cements himself in folklore as one of the legends of the transition era and the early golden era of the late 2020s/2030s, like Puyol was.
Yarek Gasiorowski
Age in 2030: 25
Current Club: Valencia
Position: CB
Nation: Spain
After a breakout campaign with Valencia this season, I see Gasiorowski being Barca of 2030’s version of Andreas Christensen. A versatile defender, I see him growing an incredible beard and joining Barca in 2028 or so, to try to put together an audition to replace Ronald Araujo once the Uruguayan becomes old.
Dani Vivian
Age in 2030: 31
Current Club: Bilbao
Position: CB
Nation: Spain
Yes, this is a blatant Inigo Martinez ripoff, but I do see this happening. Barca aren’t a stranger to an odd defensive signing, and Vivian will be that one, I think. If nothing else, good defensive depth in the centerback position, and brought on for a year or two to have a story to tell his kids and grandkids.
Nico Marcipar
Age in 2030: 22
Current Club: Barcelona
Position: CB
Nation: Argentina
I must say, it’s really hard picking which talents from La Masia will succeed in the future. We could easily see someone like Joan Ingles, Raul Chirveches, or Alfredo Rodriguez here, but I’ve picked Marcipar. He’ll be put in a good position, with good enough gametime, faced with the decision of either staying at Barca and getting a solid amount of minutes, pay, and hoping for an opening to come in the back line eventually, or leaving for another team that’ll automatically start him frequently.
Alex Balde
Age in 2030: 26
Current Club: Barcelona
Position: LB
Nation: Spain
Again, despite injury issues and a bad 23/24, I think Alex Balde is still the future of the left back position. He’s still quick as anything, and paired with a good full back who can compliment his abilities like Fort can, he had room and space to show his abilities. Don’t count him out yet, for sure.
Alvaro Fernandez Carreras
Age in 2030: 27
Current Club: Benfica
Position: LB
Nation: Spain
Truly an Alonso-esque signing. I can see Carreras doubling back on his former Madrid ties to become a backup. After disappointing spells at Madrid and Man Utd, Carreras joined Benfica on a permanent deal this summer. I can see him, like Morey, turning around his form and becoming a good backup until the next player we’ll talk about is ready.
Pol Bernabeu
Age in 2030: 22
Current Club: Barcelona
Position: LB
Nation: Spain
Despite the Madrid-leaning name, I believe Bernabeu can be a solid full back for Barca in the future, even as minimum, a backup. We also see names such as Lorenzo Oertli and Jofre Torrents, maybe even Jordi Pesquer could be here, but my money’s on Bernabeu.
Marc Bernal
Age in 2030: 23
Current Club: Barcelona
Position: DM
Nation: Spain
However, I believe that Bernal can be even better. A naturally made Busquets replacement, I think we’ll see Bernal’s breakthrough in 24/25, and he’ll be the starting DM by 2030. While the player we’ll cover next will be a stop gap until Bernal is ready, I think Bernal is the future for Barca in that position, which will mean we don’t even need to sign a star there.
Mikel Merino
Age in 2030: 34
Current Club: Sociedad
Position: DM
Nation: Spain
The stop gap signing in mind, Barcelona should sign Mikel Merino this summer, the third signing made from the Spanish euro squad. Merino will soon share playtime at the DM position with Bernal, but he should be a solid addition for the near future of this Barca team.
Gerard Mullol
Age in 2030: 19
Current Club: Barcelona
Position: DM
Nation: Spain
While I don’t know much about Mullol, I do know that he’s already in a U16 team at 13 years old, so he can’t be too bad. As La Masia keeps producing potential options for the future, it can’t be too bad for us, right? At least a backup option at DM in the first team in 2030, just coming into his own.
Pedri
Age in 2030: 27
Current Club: Barcelona
Position: CM
Nation: Spain
If Flick can work his magic, injuries shouldn’t be a problem for Pedri going forward. If the recurring injuries can get solved, the Barca midfield is Pedri’s to own, but if not, he may end up fizzling out early, like Guti or Isco.
Gavi
Age in 2030: 25
Current Club: Barcelona
Position: CM
Nation: Spain
I also believe that Gavi can recover from his long-term ACL injury from last year, and maintain a starting spot for Barca in 2030. Despite some hardships, I believe Gavi can still be a starter for Barcelona for a long time, it’s crazy that he’ll only be 25 in 2030.
Guille Fernandez
Age in 2030: 22
Current Club: Barcelona
Position: CM
Nation: Spain
Like Bernal, I can see Guille breaking out onto the scene either this season or next season. Widely regarded as one of the best La Masia talents yet to find the spotlight, the sky is really the limit for Guille, and Barca may have to find a way to shoehorn him into the XI.
Fermin Lopez
Age in 2030: 27
Current Club: Barcelona
Position: CM
Nation: Spain
Fermin’s continuity at Barcelona really depends on if he’s comfortable being a rotational player, with Pedri, Gavi, and Guille all getting minutes if fit, with Fermin being more of a rotational player. However, if one of them is injured, Fermin would be a really reliable backup piece. Hopefully, Fermin can stay and become a really nice, dependable piece for us. However, if he doesn’t want to stay on the bench, then he’s free to leave if he wants. I’ll still be rooting for him.
Andrey Santos
Age in 2030: 26
Current Club: Chelsea
Position: CM
Nation: Brazil
While an odd signing, I see Andrey Santos as an interesting depth signing, similar to Eric Garcia. He’s been linked to Barca before, and I see the transfer happening. He’s a decent player defensively, and I don’t see him getting any major chance at Chelsea, and joining Barca on a free, either after a contract termination or contract expiry.
Michal Zuk
Age in 2030: 21
Current Club: Barcelona
Position: CM
Nation: Poland
Another good La Masia midfielder, I sadly don’t see many CMs doing well at Barca after Guille has his breakthrough. With at least 4 La Masia CMs who’ll be at the club for a while, there’s not much room in the midfield for them anymore. However, we’ll still see some players getting chances, and Michal Zuk will be one of them.
Dani Olmo
Age in 2030: 32
Current Club: RB Leipzig
Position: AM
Nation: Spain
Another player who, by 2030, will be more bit part, Dani Olmo will be a crucial player for Barca throughout the mid to late 2020s. After his signing in 2024, Olmo will be a key cog for the early part of Barca’s new era before transitioning duties to the new man, and in this case, the next man we’re talking about.
Facundo Buonanotte
Age in 2030: 25
Current Club: Brighton
Position: AM
Nation: Argentina
Yes, I believe Facundo Buonanotte will be a future Barca star, and Olmo’s replacement. He’ll be signed in around 2028 or 2029, and will learn off a veteran Dani Olmo. While there’s a possibility he leaves before turning 30, I believe he’ll be a big part of Barca’s future.
Ebrima Tunkara
Age in 2030: 20
Current Club: Barcelona
Position: AM
Nation: Spain
The class of 2010 is looking really bright for Barcelona, and Ebrima Tunkara is part of that. The part Gambian midfielder is part of the U16 side, and could break into the squad in the late 2020s, around 2029, and will be in and around the team for a while.
Lamine Yamal
Age in 2030: 23
Current Club: Barcelona
Position: RW
Nation: Spain
The most obvious inclusion on this list, Lamine Yamal is expected to be Barcelona’s star by 2030, and at 23, could be reaching best in the world levels by then. He’s an absolute gem, and we’ll have to see how he does. However, if he doesn’t work out, Barcelona may be in trouble.
Rayan Vitor
Age in 2030: 24
Current Club: Vasco de Gama
Position: RW
Nation: Brazil
After the departures of Raphinha and Ferran Torres, Rayan Vitor is my pick to replace them in the role of backup midfielder, similar to a Pedro-type player. Having talked about him in the same breath as Endrick when both were linked to Barca and Madrid back in 2022, I don’t think Rayan will reach those levels, but he’ll still be solid, potentially a Pedro-type player.
Byron Mendoza
Age in 2030: 21
Current Club: Barcelona
Position: RW
Nation: Spain
If you want more on Byron, I just did a separate post just about him, but the winger who signed for Barca just this summer has been talked about for a while, since he was 7 years old and in Madrid’s academy. He’ll be a decent backup to Lamine Yamal, and once his time comes, will likely leave at some point around his prime in search of game time.
Erling Haaland
Age in 2030: 30
Current Club: Man City
Position: ST
Nation: Norway
The reason I don’t have Barca making too many signings is because of this man. I think Joan Laporta will use a ton of Barca’s budget over the next 6 years on the Jaerbu striker. Pairing him up with Yamal will be scary, pairing Yamal’s crosses with Haaland’s finishing will finally rival Real Madrid and make El Clasico great again. I really hope we can make this happen.
Toni Fernandez
Age in 2030: 22
Current Club: Barcelona
Position: ST
Nation: Spain
The cousin of previously mentioned Guille Fernandez, Toni has been training a lot with the first team, and I can see him becoming a very capable backup. He’ll find his way into the first team after Vitor Roque’s inevitable departure, and he’ll be decent.
Roberto Tomas
Age in 2030: 21
Current Club: Barcelona
Position: ST
Nation: Spain
The final striker we see, Roberto Tomas is a very good prospect, and he’ll be trying to compete with Fernandez to be Haaland’s replacement in a few years once Haaland comes of age. It’ll be an interesting battle to see who eventually stays and keeps it going, and who eventually leaves.
Nico Williams
Age in 2030: 28
Current Club: Bilbao
Position: LW
Nation: Spain
Yes, Nico Williams is a future Barcelona legend. After confirming his signing soon, Williams and Yamal will be a legendary duo. Even at 28, Williams will be lightning-quick, but starting to be able to rely on something that isn’t his pace. I cannot wait to see Nico in Blaugrana colours.
Ruslan Mba
Age in 2030: 20
Current Club: Barcelona
Position: LW
Nation: Spain
Remember the name. Ruslan Mba, born in 2010, will be eligible to make his first team debut in 2026, and we’ll soon see his rapid rise through the ranks at Barca, very similarly to Lamine Yamal. If Nico Williams leaves early or declines before turning 30, Mba will be ready to fill his place, in my opinion, and he can create another great partnership with Yamal. He’s just that good.
Pedrito Juarez
Age in 2030: 16
Current Club: Barcelona
Position: LW
Nation: Argentina
Yes, if you’ve done the math, Pedrito is just 10 right now, but we’ve seen some of his skills already, and he could very much be playing for the first team by 16 years old. Maybe we still have to wait and see until closer to 2032, but I believe we’ll see Juarez play for Barcelona soon enough. Remember the name.
That’s all for this post, ladies and gentlemen. Hopefully in 2030 we’ll still be doing this, and if we are, I’ll react to this. Take this post as an “if everything goes to plan” post, but in 6 years, the plan can shift quite a bit, so take this as the unlikely prediction it, in reality, is. For now though, I’m Jim James, until next time.