FOOTBALL LEGENDS: ANDRÉS INIESTA

Published:8/10/2024 - 21:55h

Updated:8/10/2024 - 22:01h

Achievements, awards and statistics of Andrés Iniesta, a legend of FC Barcelona and one of the best midfielders in the history of football

Andrés Iniesta is one of the most important players in the history of FC Barcelona and a true football legend. Unfortunately, at 40 years old and 22 seasons, more than 1,000 official matches and 38 titles, he is ending his sporting career.

A cartoon footballer: Refined technique, elegance and vision of the game are some of the differential aspects of a footballer who grew up with the best Barça in history alongside Messi, Xavi, Busquets, Puyol... Iniesta was the crack of impossible dribbles and the final pass.

But beyond the numbers, Iniesta played a starring role in two iconic goals that generated countless outbursts of joy and went down in the annals of the history of FC Barcelona, the Spanish national team and world football: the "Iniestazo" and the goal against Holland that made Spain world champions.

1. THE INIESTAZO: A cannon shot against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, from the edge of the area, qualified Barcelona for the Champions League final in 2009

Iniestazo, gol al Chelsea en Satmford Bridge

The "Iniestazo", goal to Chelsea in Stamford Bridge with the Barcelona

2. GOAL AGAINST HOLLAND: A year later, in the 116th minute of the World Cup final in South Africa, he repeated the ecstasy with the most significant goal of his sporting career, a goal against Holland that proclaimed Spain World Champion.

Gol de Iniesta a Holanda final Copa del Mundo

Goal of Iniesta to Holland in the Final of the Cup of the World

Andrés Iniesta's spectacular list of achievements:

TITLES: Iniesta has won 38 titles: 1 World Cup, 2 European Championships, 4 Champions Leagues, 3 Club World Cups, 3 European Super Cups, 9 La Ligas, 6 Copa del Reys, 7 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Japanese League, 1 Emperor's Cup and 1 Japanese Super Cup.

STATS: Iniesta has played an incredible 885 matches, scoring 93 goals and providing 61 assists at club level, and 131 matches, 14 goals and 30 assists at national team level.

GREAT MOMENTS: In his 22-year career, the midfielder has experienced many unforgettable moments, but there are three that are also part of football history: the goal against Holland that made Spain world champions, the Ballon d'Or podium alongside Xavi and Messi and the "iniestazo" against Chelsea.

Iniesta with the FC Barcelona

El Barça del sextete, el mejor equipo de la historia del fútbol

The Barçto of the sextete, the best squad of the history of the fútbol

Iniesta was discovered in a youth tournament while playing with Albacete, attracting the attention of all scouts. He left the quiet life in the La Mancha town of Fuentealbilla to fulfill his dream of becoming a professional footballer. He was 12 years old when he arrived at La Masia del Barça.

Andrés Iniesta played 16 seasons in the first team of FC Barcelona, playing 674 games, scoring 57 goals and providing 139 assists. And, together with Sergio Busquets and Xavi Hernández, he formed the best midfield in the history of Barça and, possibly, in the history of football.

In total, Iniesta won 32 titles with the Barça shirt, being the second most successful player in the history of the club, only surpassed by Leo Messi (35 titles).

4X UEFA Champions League: 2005/06, 2008/09, 2010/11 and 2014/15
3X Club World Cup: 2010, 2012 and 2016
9X LaLiga: 2004/05, 2005/06, 2008/09, 2009/10, 2010/11, 2012/13, 2014/15, 2015/2016 and 2017/18
3X Europe Supercup: 2009/10, 2011/12 and 2015/16
6X Copa del Rey: 2008/09, 2011/12, 2014/15, 2015/16, 2016/17 and 2017/18
7X Spanish Supercup: 2005/06, 2006/07, 2009/10, 2010/11, 2011/12, 2013/14 and 2016/17

Iniesta with the Vissel Kobe and the Emirates Club

Iniesta played six seasons in Japan. It arrived in 2018, but his main successes arrived in the last years. Besides, Iniesta played a last season in the Emirates Club of the Division 1 of the Arab Emirates Joined.

1X Champion of League Japan: 2023
1X Cup of the Emperor: 2019
1X Supercup Japanese: 2019

Iniesta with the Spanish Selection

Iniesta levantando la copa de Campeón del Mundo con España

Iniesta raising the cup of Campeón of the World with Españto

Andrés Iniesta was an undisputed starter and one of the most important players in the best Spanish national team. He was also a European champion under-17 and under-19. His TOP moment came in the 116th minute of the World Cup final in South Africa, when he scored the most important goal of his sporting career, a goal against Holland that proclaimed Spain World Champion.

1X Champion of the World: South Africa 2010
2X Eurocopa: Austria and Switzerland 2008 and Poland and Ukraine 2012
1X Champion Sub-19 of Europe: 2002
1X Champion Sub-17 Europe: 2001

Individual titles and awards

Andrés Iniesta is one of the best players ever to grace FC Barcelona's La Masia and is considered one of the most brilliant midfielders in the history of football. Although he always stood out for being a team player, his incredible individual quality was also recognised with multiple awards.

Iniesta, Messi y Xavi podio Balón de Oro

Iniesta, Messi and Xavi, three finalists of the Bleat́n of Gold

Despite his numerous footballing exhibitions, Iniesta surprisingly never won the Ballon d'Or. However, in 2010, he starred alongside Leo Messi and Xavi in one of the most iconic images in the history of Barcelona and the Ballon d'Or: the Barça podium of finalists.