Barcelona's Generation '87: When Messi, Cesc and Pique killed the competition at La Masia

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In the early 2000s, three greats played in the same side at Barcelona’s La Masia academy for a season – and blew all of their rivals away

Barcelona

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Lionel Messi

Cesc Fabregas

Gerard Piqué

Tito Vilanova

Manchester United

Arsenal

Longform

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Barcelona’s Generacion del ’87 is the go-to hipster spotter’s badge; a calling card for future greatness and world football legacy. Why? Three names: Gerard Pique, Cesc Fabregas and Lionel Messi

We thought Messi was mute. Until he picked up the ball, and then any doubts were gone

- Cesc Fabregas

I remember a game in which we were winning 3-0 after only three minutes. It’s almost impossible, mathematically. I turned to my assistant and said, ‘And now what do we tell them? What can you say at the break when they’re winning 8-0?

- Tito Vilanova

Pique and Cesc would keep themselves occupied by trying to outscore each other. It was the most interesting way to keep ourselves motivated

- Victor Vazquez

That generation will never be repeated. You had the best mixture possible: incredibly talented players with very good players, who had all played together from the Avelines upwards

- Alex Garcia

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Barcelona

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Andrew Murray

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