Barcelona captain reveals the one moment he will never forget after 200th game: ‘I’ll go with…’ | OneFootball

Ronald Araujo reached a major personal milestone this week after making his 200th appearance for Barcelona during the team’s 3-0 victory over Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey semi-final second leg.

The moment marked another important chapter in the defender’s journey at the club. 

Having joined Barcelona as a relatively unknown 19-year-old prospect, Araujo has grown into one of the most important figures in the squad and is now part of the club’s captaincy group.

Speaking in an interview with SPORT, the 26-year-old opened up about his emotions after reaching the landmark number of appearances.

“For me, reaching 200 games with Barça is a dream come true,” he began saying.

Looking back at the early days of his career at the club, Araujo admitted that achieving such a milestone was never something he expected so soon after arriving in Spain.

“The truth is that reaching 200 games was something I saw as a long way off. When I arrived at the age of 19, I only dreamed of playing for the first team.”

Memorable moments

Over the course of those appearances, the defender has experienced many memorable nights wearing the Barcelona shirt. 

When asked to choose one standout moment from the 200 matches he has played, Araujo pointed to a special night against Real Madrid.

“I could name many games that have given us titles and will remain in my memory, come to mind… but I’ll go with the 4-0 Clasico in which I scored a goal, in 2022.”

Reflecting on his overall time at the club, the Uruguayan highlighted the trophies he has won with Barcelona as the moments he values the most.

“I would choose the titles we won. Lifting a trophy in this shirt is always very special because you know how much it means to the club and the fans,” he noted.

A source of pride

Araujo is proud to have made 20th appearance for Barcelona. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

As one of the captains in the current squad, Araujo also spoke about what it means to lead the team and represent the club on the pitch.

“It’s a huge source of pride. Barça has a great history with many captains who are legends. 

“For me, it means responsibility, representing the club’s values, and helping my teammates on and off the field.”

The defender also admitted that reaching the 200-game mark feels even more meaningful after the challenges he has faced with mental stress in recent months.

“Yes, because when you go through difficult times, you appreciate everything much more. 

“I worked hard to get back to full fitness and be able to help the team, so reaching 200 games has a special meaning.”

Aiming for more

After dealing with injuries and difficult moments earlier in the season, Araujo expressed gratitude for the support he has received along the way.

“I’m very grateful. To God, my family, the club, and the fans. 

“It’s been a difficult few months, with a lot of hard work, and when you see that all that effort is worth it, it gives you a lot of motivation to keep going.”

Despite already reaching an impressive milestone, the Barcelona defender insists his ambitions at the club remain clear.

“My dream is to keep winning titles with Barça. 

“If I reach 300 or 400 games, it will be because I’m doing my job well and helping the team, so hopefully I can keep adding to that number for many years to come,” he concluded.