On May 15, Fermín López scored Fútbol Club Barcelona’s second goal in a 2-0 win against Espanyol to secure Barcelona the La Liga title. This was a massive achievement for the club because they won their 28th league title, and they also completed a domestic treble. A domestic treble occurs when a team wins its domestic league title, the primary national cup, and the secondary national cup within the same season. Barcelona won La Liga, the Copa Del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup.
La Liga also known as Primera División, is the highest league in the Spanish soccer league system. The season begins in August and ends in May. There are 20 teams in the division, and teams play each other twice. The top four teams qualify for the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Champions League, and the bottom three teams are relegated to the division below, Segunda División (La Liga 2). Barcelona won La Liga in their 36th match with 85 points. They had a very dominant season. They scored 102 goals, and only conceded 39.
The UEFA Champions League is a competition between the top-division clubs in Europe. There is a league phase, in which 36 teams each play eight different teams. The top eight teams automatically qualify to the knockout stage, and those in 9th-24th enter a playoff round. The top eight teams play against the bottom eight teams, and the winners move on to the next round.
Barcelona’s success was not only in La Liga, but also in the UEFA Champions league. The team placed second in the league phase of the Champions League, but they lost 7-6 aggregate in the semi-final of the knockout round against Football Club Internazionale Milano (Inter Milan). Barcelona has scored the most goals in the Champions League, and Barcelona left winger Raphina has the most goals and assists in the competition. Millbrook senior Julius Folajin said, “Barcelona was the best team in Europe this season. Although they lost to Milan, they have the better team. Every player is incredible from goalkeeper to striker.”
Many say Lamine Yamal and Raphina are in the top three for the Ballon D’Or. The Ballon D’Or is an annual award presented by France Football (L’Équipe Group). It is seen as the peak of individual brilliance in soccer. There are three criteria for the award: individual performance, trophies, and sportsmanship. The 2025 Ballon D’Or ceremony will be held at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris on Monday, September 22. Football365, Sporting News, and GiveMeSport place Yamal and Raphina in the top five in their Ballon D’Or power rankings. They were pivotal in Barcelona’s success with Raphina scoring or assisting 27 times, and Yamal scoring or assisting 22 times in La Liga.
Yamal could potentially break the record for the youngest Ballon D’Or winner. The current record was set by Ronaldo Nazário at 21 years, three months, and five days old in 1997. Lamine could win at 18 years, two months, and nine days. Sophomore Tyson Slack said, “Yamal is an amazing player. His impact on Barcelon at such a young age is incredible.” Yamal has won two La Liga titles in the three seasons since his professional debut in the 2022/23 season. He broke many records this season such as becoming the youngest player to score and assist in the Champions League.
Barcelona had an amazing season, and they had a great upturn from the 2023/24 season. They placed second in La Liga, and lost all El Clásicos (The Classic) in the 2023/24 season. The old manager, Xavier Hernández, left the club at the end of the season, and a new manager, Hansi Flick, was hired. Under new management, the team won all four El Clásicos, tying the record for the most El Clásico wins in a season. This season will not be forgotten.
