Andrés Iniesta(part 1)

Andrés Iniesta Luján, born on May 11, 1984, is a Spanish professional footballer known for his legendary career as a midfielder. His remarkable balance, ball control, agility in tight spaces, skill, composure, and flair on the ball have earned him a reputation as one of the greatest midfielders of all time. Iniesta spent the majority of his career at Barcelona, where he played a crucial role in the club's success alongside fellow midfielders Xavi and Sergio Busquets.


Iniesta's journey began at La Masia, Barcelona's youth academy, and he made his first-team debut at the age of 18 in 2002. He became a regular starter during the 2004–05 season and remained with the team until 2018. Throughout his tenure, Iniesta played a pivotal role in Barcelona's achievements, contributing to two historic trebles in 2009 and 2015. His trophy cabinet includes 35 titles, with highlights such as nine La Liga championships and four UEFA Champions League titles, making him the most decorated Spanish footballer of all time. In 2018, after 22 years at Barcelona, Iniesta joined J1 League club Vissel Kobe. He later signed with UAE Pro League club Emirates in 2023.


On the international stage, Iniesta represented Spain at the Under-16, Under-19, and Under-21 levels before making his senior debut in 2006. He played a vital role in Spain's triumph at UEFA Euro 2008, earning a spot in the Team of the Tournament. Iniesta's contributions were crucial in Spain's victory at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, where he scored the winning goal in the final against the Netherlands and was named the Man of the Match. His outstanding performances in 2010 earned him a runner-up position to Lionel Messi in the 2010 FIFA Ballon d'Or.


Iniesta continued to shine, leading Spain to victory at UEFA Euro 2012 and receiving the Player of the Tournament award. He has been included in the FIFA FIFPro World XI nine times, featured in the UEFA Team of the Year six times, and earned the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award in 2012. Iniesta was named the IFFHS World's Best Playmaker in 2012 and 2013, achieving third place in the 2012 Ballon d'Or and securing a spot in the All-time UEFA Euro XI.


Andrés Iniesta's career at Barcelona continued to flourish during Radomir Antić's tenure. He made his first-team debut on October 29, 2002, in a 1–0 away victory against Club Brugge in the UEFA Champions League group stage. During the 2004–05 season, he played in 37 out of 38 league games, more than any other player, contributing to Barcelona's La Liga triumph with two goals.


In the following season, 2005–06, Iniesta's role expanded due to an injury to Xavi. He made regular starts in the center of midfield and played in 11 UEFA Champions League games, including a halftime appearance in the 2006 final, helping Barcelona secure a league and Champions League double. His versatility and contributions were highly praised by manager Frank Rijkaard.


The 2006–07 season saw Iniesta's profile rise even further. He demonstrated his willingness to play in various positions and scored goals, especially during the preseason where he captained the team to win the Joan Gamper Trophy. Despite being moved around the pitch by Rijkaard, Iniesta had his highest-scoring season thus far.


Ahead of the 2007–08 campaign, with the departure of Ludovic Giuly, Iniesta switched his number 24 shirt for the number 8. Despite rumors of a possible transfer, he extended his contract until 2014 on January 25, 2008, with a raised buy-out clause of €150 million. Iniesta's consistent performances earned him recognition, placing fifth and fourth in the La Liga rankings for the 2006–07 and 2007–08 seasons, respectively. Additionally, he finished ninth in the 2008 FIFA World Player of the Year voting.


Andrés Iniesta's influence at Barcelona continued to grow. In September 2008, he was elected the fourth-choice captain, following Carles Puyol, Xavi, and Víctor Valdés. All four were products of the Barcelona youth system. Iniesta's performances during the season received widespread acclaim, earning standing ovations not only at Camp Nou but also from rival supporters in away matches.


A leg injury in mid-November 2008 kept Iniesta sidelined until January 3, despite initial expectations of a six-week recovery. He made a remarkable comeback, entering as a 65th-minute substitute against Mallorca and scoring a crucial goal just ten minutes later, contributing to a Barcelona comeback in front of the Camp Nou. Three days later, he captained Barcelona for the first time in an official match, leading the team to a 3–1 victory against Atlético Madrid in the round-of-16 first leg of the Copa del Rey.


Although Iniesta suffered another injury during a home match against Málaga, he returned to action for the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich on April 8, where Barcelona won 4–0. One of the standout moments of the season came in the second leg of the Champions League semi-final against Chelsea. In the final minute of stoppage time, Iniesta scored a crucial equalizer with a curling strike from 25 yards out with the outside of his right foot. This goal secured the tie on away goals as the match finished 1–1 at Stamford Bridge. Reflecting on that moment in the season review, "Un Any Al Paradis," Iniesta expressed the deep emotional connection to the shot, stating, "I connected with that shot with the outside, not the inside or the tip of my boot, but right from my heart, with all my might."

References

1.  "FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010: List of Players: Spain" (PDF). FIFA. 4 June 2010. p. 29. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 June 2010. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
2. ^ "Andrés Iniesta". Emirates Club. Archived from the original on 28 August 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
3. ^ "Andrés Iniesta". UAE Pro League. Archived from the original on 25 August 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
4. ^ "The 10 Greatest Midfielders In Football History Have Been Named And Ranked". www.sportbible.com. 25 March 2021. Archived from the original on 16 June 2021. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
5. ^ HS, Shreyas (12 February 2021). "10 greatest midfielders of all time". www.sportskeeda.com. Archived from the original on 16 June 2021. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
6. ^ Rogers, Joshua (21 May 2018). "Vote on where Iniesta ranks among the greatest midfielders of all time". mirror. Archived from the original on 16 June 2021. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
7. a b c d e f g h Walker, Joe (1 July 2018). "Andrés Iniesta ends Spain career: his greatness explained". UEFA. Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
8. ^ Futsalfeed.com (14 March 2020). "Top 10 Footballers Who Played Futsal! Archived 6 November 2020 at the Wayback Machine", "futsalfeed.com". Retrieved 14 March 2020.
9. ^ "Iniesta: the Spanish matador Archived 20 January 2015 at the Wayback Machine", 28 October 2003, FIFA.com.