The Forgotten Prodigy: How Bojan Krkić Lit Up Barcelona Before Fading Into the Shadows
Once dubbed “the next Messi,” Bojan Krkić dazzled at La Masia and broke records early — but his journey through football’s biggest stages became a tale of talent, timing, and untapped potential.
Bojan Krkić was once one of the brightest stars in world football. The Spanish-Serbian forward scored over 900 goals for Barcelona’s youth academy before being promoted to the senior team at just 17 years old according to many reports.
At the time, he was the jewel of La Masia, the same academy that produced Xavi, Iniesta, and, of course, Lionel Messi.
Bojan wasn’t just another talented youngster, he was the next big thing. Expectations were sky-high.
When he finally got his chance in the first team, Bojan didn’t disappoint. In his debut season, he played 48 games and scored 12 goals for Barcelona , an impressive stats for a teenager, especially considering many of those appearances came off the bench.
Bojan dribbling, vision, and instinctive finishing earned him comparisons to Messi himself.
But while the future looked bright for Bojan, things quickly became complicated.
During Bojan’s early years in the senior squad, Barcelona’s attacking lineup was a galaxy of stars.
Imagine trying to make your mark when you’re sharing the pitch and competing for minutes with Lionel Messi, Thierry Henry, Samuel Eto’o, and later Zlatan Ibrahimović and David Villa (who joined in 2010). And don’t forget Pedro, another La Masia graduate who hit form at the right time.
It was the golden age of Barça’s attack, and as brilliant as Bojan was, there wasn’t enough space to accommodate everyone. He found himself being used as a substitute more often than not, and his development began to stall.
To make matters worse, Bojan struggled with injuries and anxiety, which he later opened up about in interviews.
The pressure of being hailed as “the next Messi” took its toll on his mental health. At an age when most teenagers are still figuring out life, Bojan was dealing with the weight of the Camp Nou on his shoulders.
After leaving Barcelona, Bojan’s football journey became a global one. He had stints at AS Roma, AC Milan, Ajax, Stoke City, Mainz, Alavés, Montreal Impact, and Vissel Kobe in Japan.
While he never quite fulfilled the promise of his youth, he continued to show flashes of brilliance throughout his career especially in the Premier League and during his time in MLS.
Imagine if Bojan had emerged in today’s Barcelona setup a team in transition, hungry for young talent, and more willing to hand the keys to the next generation.
A youth player scoring 900 goals in the academy and following it up with 12 goals in 48 appearances for the senior team at 17 years old would be a sensation in today’s football world. He’d probably be a starter, the centerpiece of a rebuilding project, and a face of the club’s future.
Unfortunately for Bojan, he came up at the wrong time, a time when greatness was the norm, and competition for places was unforgiving.
Still, Bojan Krkić’s story is a reminder that talent alone isn’t always enough. Timing, mental resilience, and the right environment matter just as much. While he may not have lived up to the hype, he gave us glimpses of what could have been and for those who remember, Bojan will always be one of football’s greatest what-ifs.
