The Camp Nou Experience
As you may be aware, SoccerBible was recently invited to Barcelona courtesy of adidas to meet the best footballer on the planet! But before we show you our exclusive interview with Lionel Messi, we thought we'd take you on a tour of the ground where Messi dazzles the world...
Home of FC Barcelona for more than 50 years, the Camp Nou is one of the most iconic stadiums in world football, and has seen some of the greatest players of all time. Now SoccerBible can take you on the Camp Nou Experience, to go behind-the-scenes at the home of the best club side in the game.
With a capacity of over 99,000, the Camp Nou is something of a Mecca to football fans, having played host to some of the greatest players to ever grace the game. In the modern era visitors to the Camp Nou have been fortunate to watch Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and Xavi, but even before these players, Barcelona were fielding the likes of Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, Diego Maradona, Ronaldo, Johan Cruyff, Ronald Koeman, Hristo Stoichkov and Romario to name but a few.
The Camp Nou Experience gives you full access to this great stadium, and whilst it might have been empty for our visit, the steep banked stands and lush green pitch really give you a feel for what it might be like on match day, and what makes it either one of the most intimidating or the greatest stadium to play football in.
The Camp Nou has been the FC Barcelona stadium since 24th of September 1957. With a capacity of 99,354, it is now the biggest stadium in Europe, however, the total capacity has varied over the years owing to different modifications. When it was first opened in 1957, it held 93,053 spectators, which would be increased to 120,000 in 1982 on occasion of the FIFA World Cup. However, the introduction of new regulations outlawing standing areas reduced the stadium s capacity in the late 1990s to around 99,000.
Standing in the players tunnel, you are sharing the ground walked by Lionel Messi and co on a weekly basis, and walked on by some of the world's greatest footballers. The players tunnel leads down then up to the pitch, and has been seen on TV many times as the players go through their last minute preparations before taking to the field. The tunnel is adorned with a host of images and photos from down the years of previous FC Barcelona players, all in the famous Blaugrana colours.
Entering the museum area of the stadium, the rich history and success of the club is really celebrated. Walking down a corridor which has hundreds of images of past and current players on small screens, you are serenaded by a chorus of 'Cant del Barca' by a tapestry of Barcelona fans.
Unsurprisingly, one of the most celebrated players on the tour is one of the club's most decorated players. With Lionel Messi's Golden Boot and Ballon d'Or trophies proudly on display, alongside various football boots from Messi, including his F50.9 football boots in the bespoke silver/blue colourway.
The trophy room of FC Barcelona is quite a site to behold, with trophies and cabinets which seemingly go on forever! The success of Barcelona football club is quite astonishing, but Barca haven't held back on acknowledging and celebrating the players responsible for their success, with signed shirts and old football boots in cases throughout the room.
And it was the old footwear that really caught our attention, as we laid eyes on some of the most unique football boots ever seen. Classic boots from the likes of adidas that have been confined to the annals of time, re-discovered and thrust into the limelight once again.
Leather football boots peppered with nails to keep the boots together, and solid block studs that run the width of the sole-plate. Of course, the boot romantic in us couldn't take our eyes off these boots which paved the way for modern football boots, and made us think, how would Messi perform wearing any one of these boots?!
But seeing these football boots just added to the experience that is Camp Nou. Whether taking a stroll down the corridors, walking through the players tunnel, going into the changing rooms or browsing around the museum, you are overcome by the feeling of football greatness.
And as you lay eyes on one of the games' oldest football shirts, you realise you're not just in any football stadium, you are in the home of Barcelona football club. These are the corridors walked by the players who play for the world's best club side, a side which football fans around the globe admire, a side led by the best player in the world - Lionel Messi - and we were about to go and interview him!
