Barcelona isn’t quite the side it used to be with 2021/2022’s roster of players paling in comparison to the legendary figures that dominated club football in the late 2000s and early 2010s. Xavi, Iniesta, Messi, Villa, Sanchez, and Pedro have all long since departed, leaving the Catalan giants facing one of the greatest rebuilding tasks in modern history.
That said, manager Xavi’s side has made some solid signings as recruitment continues at a relentless pace, even if some question how the club actually plans to pay for half these big names considering the debts it currently faces. Nevertheless, FIFA managers need not worry about such concerns, leaving them free to enjoy one of the best squads in the game to play around with.
Ratings shown are taken from the latest FIFA 22 update but do not take into account recent transfers or market activity.
12 Formation: 4-3-3 Holding (Alternative: 4-2-3-1)
The 4-3-3 holding formation plays to Barça’s current strengths, namely pace and fast transitional play. The side’s front three of Memphis Depay, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and Ousmane Dembélé are easily one of the paciest attacking outfits in the entire game, meaning that there’s an absolute necessity to exploit width and space as soon as the chance presents itself.
The 4-3-3 Attack formation is also a viable option, but Holding makes far more sense as it allows de Jong and Pedri to play as classic CMs while Busquets nails down his preferred CDM role.
For managers looking to switch things up a bit, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with falling back on the hardly FIFA perennial of the 4-2-3-1, this time placing Memphis as the CAM alongside Ferran Torres at LW and Ousmane Dembélé once again out wide on the right and Aubameyang up top, leaving de Jong and Busquets as the two holding midfielders.
For both formations, more experimental managers might consider putting de Jong at CB alongside Piqué and allowing Pedri to come into the midfield, resulting in a net numerical gain of +1 (87+82 instead of 87+81) and allowing players to accommodate the young starlet of Barça’s team. Be warned that de Jong’s strength, jumping, and aggression are far behind Araujo’s, so the decision shouldn’t be made lightly.
11 GK – Marc- André ter Stegen
The goalkeeper isn’t a particularly tricky position to make a selection for and it requires little discussion. German international ter Stegen is easily one of the finest shot-stoppers in world football, and his inclusion is an unquestionable must.
Brazilian Neto is a very decent backup thanks to his solid 81 rating but ter Stegen’s mammoth overall total of 88 makes him one of the game’s premier players. A nailed-on starter.
10 LB – Jordi Alba
Still one of the world’s best left-backs, Jordi Alba has been a stalwart at Barcelona for a solid decade. His rating of 84 isn’t the highest peak the Spaniard has achieved in his illustrious FIFA career, but there’s little competition coming close to deposing him.
Alba remains an immensely well-rounded full-back, and although none of his stats are truly remarkable, very few of them are especially poor either. Alba’s 61 strength can lead him to be bullied by larger wingers, but there’s little else the little Spaniard can’t do. His inclusion is inarguably essential.
9 CB – Gerard Piqué
Undoubtedly a Barcelona legend, Gerard Piqué is one of the very few players who can remember what it was like to be a part of arguably the greatest club side of all time. Like Jordi Alba’s, Piqué’s 84 rating hints at a player slightly in decline (Piqué was 88 rated in FIFA 12), but he’s still the best option at the back regardless of his downward trajectory.
Piqué’s strengths and weaknesses have been well-documented since his career started. Never blessed with pace, the 35-year-old’s acceleration and sprint speed (50 and 63 respectively) can let him down, but his immense size, strength, composure and aerial ability make him a necessity at the back.
8 CB – Ronald Araújo
Still quite young for a center-back, Ronald Araújo has a lot of developing still left to do, but his recent exploits have earned him far more respect and admiration than his 81 rating would lead one to believe.
He might be the joint-lowest rated player in this setup and is in danger of losing a place to new signing Jules Koundé when FIFA 23 drops, but he’s still a strong, solid choice to partner with Piqué. For setting up against crosses and long balls, Araújo and Piqué are the perfect pair.
7 RB – Sergi Roberto
It’s tempting to put returning club legend Dani Alves in here instead, but Sergi Roberto’s 81 rating is far clear of Alves’ 77. Roberto is the joint-lowest rating player for Barça alongside Araújo, but he’s a dependable choice with excellent stamina and very few fatal weaknesses.
He’s also underrated as an attacking option. With some very handing crossing (82) and vision (82) stats, Roberto can be employed as a more assertive wing-back when looking to play aggressively and with pressure.
6 CDM – Sergio Busquets
Already a club legend for Barcelona, club captain Sergio Busquets has pretty much defined the CDM role over the past ten or fifteen years. Busquets isn’t fast, mobile, or very strong, but his footballing intelligence is practically unmatched, as reflected in his composure, awareness, ball control, and tackling stats.
With an 84 rating, Busquets is still an integral cog in the Barcelona machine.
5 CM – Pedri
Pedri’s rating demands an upgrade come FIFA 22, but for right now managers will have to make do with a rather disappointing 82 for the young midfielder.
Still, with 86 ball control, 86 short pass, 86 dribbling, and even 86 stamina, Pedri is a perfect fit for the midfield engine room. His physical stats do let him down somewhat, but in terms of technical midfielders capable of driving the ball forward during transitional play, Pedri is already a master.
4 CM – Frenkie de Jong
One of the simplest choices to make and the first outfield name on the team sheet. De Jong has been a polarizing figure since moving to the Nou Camp, but very few can argue with his self-evident ability.
A colossal 87 rating makes him Barcelona’s best outfield player (until Lewandowski arrives), while 90 composure, 88 agility, 90 stamina, 86 vision, and 89 ball control testify to his quality. De jong isn’t strong and his disappointing shooting stats let him down, but apart from that, the Dutchman’s inclusion is a no-brainer.
3 LW - Memphis Depay
It’s odd that Barcelona wants to get rid of former Manchester United man Memphis Depay considering how good he’s been for the Catalan giants. Real-world politics aside, Memphis is a superb option on both the LW or straight through the middle, exhibiting solid physical stats and some exceptional ball control.
A predatory goalscorer, Memphis’ 84 finishing, 87 shot power, and 85 curve make him lethal when cutting in off his wing, while his versatility renders him an option as a false-nine, a winger, or an out-and-out striker. Wherever the Dutchman goes, he's an absolute force of nature in FIFA 22.
2 ST – Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Aubameyang has hit the ground running at Barcelona, netting thirteen times in nineteen league appearances for the La Liga side. Aubameyang’s game is all about pace, his 88 spring speed and 85 acceleration making him perfect for through balls over the top and counter-attacks against a high-pressing side.
Aubameyang might end up losing his place to Robert Lewandowski when the Pole arrives next season, but right now he’s the clear choice up top. For a side setup primarily to hit hard on the break and move quickly through phases, Aubameyang is pretty much ideal.
1 RW – Ousmane Dembélé
It’s such a shame that so much of Ousmane Dembélé’s career at Barcelona has been plagued by injury, but such misfortune hasn’t affected the Frenchman’s stats too severely. Still rated at 83, Dembélé remains one of FIFA's premier wingers, his pace, control, and dynamism making him a lethal option on the right-hand side, not to mention five-star skills and a five-star weak foot.
For managers who want a more reliable finisher up top, however, Ferran Torres can be used to replace Dembélé on the right wing, the Spaniard’s lower pace and ball control made up for thanks to his far superior attacking positioning and finishing stats. Whatever the case, expect to be subbing one for the other if either ends up showing signs of fatigue.
FIFA 22 is currently available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, and Stadia.