We sincerely hope Ansu Fati has got shoulders of a genuine giant since the million-tons burden has just been put on his back.The 18-year-old forward born in Guinea-Bissau will wear Barcelona ’10’ in the current season, making him the first non-South American player to be awarded such an honour (and enormous pressure at the same time) in the last two decades.Before him, it was a Finish maverick Jari Litmanen who was given the Blaugrana’s shirt number 10 when he arrived from Ajax in June 1999.Litmanen against Chelsea, wearing Barca’s ’10’ (© Ben Radford-Getty images)The next season, following Litmanen’s move to Liverpool, this special shirt – representing a meaningful proof of the player’s quality and importance for the club – came in the hands of Rivaldo. A gifted, left-footed Brazilian forward started a tradition of South Americans as Barcelona’s leading figures.Rivaldo against Liverpool (©Action Images / Tony O’Brien Digital)Rivaldo’s over-head kicks, stunning volleys and brilliant passes paved the way for his fellow countryman Ronaldinho, whose remarkable talent took Camp Nou by storm once he arrived in 2003 from PSG.He was, of course, instantly awarded with ’10’ and proved Frank Rijkaard and the club’s boardroom were more than right for giving him the keys of the team.Ronaldinho against AC Milan (©Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)During his second season with Catalan giants, he was accompanied by another South American, then-unknown Argentine magician Lionel Messi. Firstly, Messi wore ’30’, then ’19’, and then – much-deservedly – inherited Ronaldinho’s ’10’ once he left the club.Two greats, Messi and Ronaldinho (©Denis Doyle/Getty Images)From that moment on, it was evident that The Number will be Messi’s for as long as he stays at Blaugrana. But, as we already know, he departed Barcelona and landed in Paris, so the number ’10’ was available again.After such masters like Rivaldo, Ronaldinho and Messi, the fact Ansu Fati will be the new top star of the team tells a lot about the expectations regarding this young man.A legacy continues… Ansu Fati and Messi (© Pedro Salado/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)No pressure at all, huh…
