Andrés Iniesta (part 2)

Andrés Iniesta signed a new contract with Barcelona, extending his stay at the club until 2018. As the vice-captain, he played a key role in leading Barcelona to their second treble during the 2014–15 season. Iniesta became the captain following Carles Puyol's retirement and Xavi's departure.Throughout the 2014–15 season, Iniesta scored three goals in the Copa del Rey and was named the man of the match in the 2015 UEFA Champions League Final. He assisted Ivan Rakitić's opening goal in the 3–1 victory over Juventus at Berlin's Olympiastadion. This European triumph marked Barcelona as the first club in history to win the treble twice, and Iniesta was one of the seven players to achieve this feat.


In a memorable Clásico on November 21, 2015, Iniesta's outstanding performance, including a goal and an assist, earned him applause from Real Madrid fans at the Santiago Bernabéu. During the 2017-2018 season, Iniesta reached a milestone by playing his 650th game for Barcelona against Levante on January 7, 2018. He signed a lifetime contract with Barcelona on October 6, 2017, indicating his commitment to the club for the remainder of his career.
However, despite the lifetime contract, on April 27, 2018, Iniesta announced that he would be leaving Barcelona at the end of the season. He made his final appearance for the club on May 20, 2018, in the last league match of the season, a 1–0 home victory over Real Sociedad. Iniesta played until the 81st minute before being replaced by Paco Alcácer as Barcelona celebrated their 25th league and 30th Copa del Rey titles.


Andrés Iniesta joined the Japanese club Vissel Kobe on May 24, 2018, signing a three-year deal. He made his debut on July 22, 2018, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 0–3 defeat against Shonan Bellmare. On August 11, 2018, Iniesta scored his first goal in the J1 League during a 2–1 win over Jubilo Iwata.


On December 21, 2019, he scored the opening goal in a 3–1 win over Shimizu S-Pulse in the semi-final of the 2019 Emperor's Cup. On January 1, 2020, Iniesta won his first trophy in Japan, starting in Vissel Kobe's 2–0 victory over Kashima Antlers in the final of the 2019 Emperor's Cup. A month later, he also won the 2020 Japanese Super Cup.However, on December 7, 2020, Iniesta suffered a tear of the rectus femoris muscle during a 2–0 win in the round of 16 of the 2020 AFC Champions League against Shanghai SIPG, in which he also scored the first goal of the game. He underwent successful surgery in Barcelona a few days later.


On May 11, 2021, Iniesta signed a contract extension with Vissel Kobe, keeping him at the club for another two seasons. He was named J.League Monthly MVP on November 11, 2021, after scoring three league goals in October, and was included in the 2021 J.League Best XI on December 6, 2021.Iniesta continued to make an impact for Vissel Kobe, scoring a goal and guiding the team to its first league win of the 2022 season in a 4–0 victory over Sagan Tosu on May 14, 2022.However, on May 25, 2023, Vissel Kobe announced that Iniesta would leave the club midway through the current J.League season, effective July 1, 2023. Iniesta expressed his desire not to retire yet and wished to join a club where he could secure regular playing time.


Andrés Iniesta played a significant role in Spain's success during the UEFA Euro 2008, held in Austria and Switzerland. Although a stomach ailment affected his performances in the group stages, he played in Spain's group matches and contributed to the team's success. In the quarter-final against Italy, Iniesta played the entire match, and Spain won on penalties. He played a crucial role in the semi-final against Russia, providing an assist for Xavi's goal in a 3–0 victory, earning him the Man of the Match award. In the final against Germany, Iniesta played the full duration as Spain secured a 1–0 win, and he was named in the Team of the Tournament.


Iniesta continued his success with the Spanish national team in the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He scored a goal against Chile in the group stage, earning him the Man of the Match award. In the final against the Netherlands, Iniesta scored the winning goal in the 116th minute, securing Spain's first-ever World Cup victory. Despite receiving a yellow card for removing his jersey during the goal celebration to reveal a message to his late friend Dani Jarque, Iniesta was named Man of the Match.


His contributions extended to UEFA Euro 2012, where he received the Man of the Match award in multiple matches. In the final against Italy, which Spain won 4–0, Iniesta was again named Man of the Match. Winning this award made him the only Spanish player to win the award in each of Spain's three consecutive successful tournaments. Additionally, Iniesta was chosen as the UEFA Euro 2012 Player of the Tournament.

References

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2. ^ Stevenson, Jonathan (12 July 2010). "Andres Iniesta, the unassuming superstar Archived 2 January 2021 at the Wayback Machine", BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 December 2010.
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