Andres Iniesta Lujan is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for the Spain national team. He spent most of his career at Barcelona, where he served as the captain for three seasons.
Iniesta came through La Masia, the Barcelona youth academy, after an early emigration from his birthplace, and impressed from an early age. He made his first-team debut aged 18 in 2002. He began playing regularly during the 2004–05 season and has remained in the team ever since. Iniesta was an integral part of the Barcelona sides that won two historic trebles in 2009 and 2015, and his 34 trophies make him the most decorated Spanish footballer of all time. Despite signing a lifetime contract, on 27 April 2018, Iniesta announced he would be leaving Barcelona by the end of the season.
Iniesta originally started as a defensive midfielder, but his balance, ball control and agility allied with his skill on the ball saw him make progress as an attacking midfielder. He was used initially as a wide-forward in the absence of Juan Roman Riquelme and Ronaldinho by Louis van Gaal and Rijkaard respectively, but made his name as a world-class player in central midfield alongside or in lieu of Xavi, at both club and international level. As FIFA.com says, "It is in this position that his direct style and quick feet can be used to full effect, with the ball seeming glued to his toes as he races into threatening positions. Iniesta is a player known for his passing, dribbling, vision and movement."
Iniesta played for Spain at the Under-16, Under-19 and Under-21 levels before making his international debut in 2006. He helped Spain win Euro 2008, playing every game and being selected in the Team of the Tournament. Iniesta was also a key member of the victorious Spanish team at the 2010 World Cup; he scored the winning goal in the final against the Netherlands, for which he was named the Man of the Match, and was selected to the tournament's All-Star Team. At Euro 2012, Iniesta led Spain to their second consecutive continental crown, again being chosen as the Man of the Match of the final against Italy, and was named the Player of the Tournament.
Iniesta is widely considered to be one of the best players of his generation and one of the greatest midfielders of all time. Since 2009, he has been chosen in the UEFA Team of the Year six times and has been voted into the FIFA World XI on nine occasions. Iniesta won the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award in 2012 and was named the IFFHS World's Best Playmaker in 2012 and 2013. He was runner-up to Lionel Messi for the 2010 FIFA Ballon d'Or and achieved third place in 2012.
In May 2018 he was named in Spain’s 23-man squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.<\/P>","4039037DD85D60421E356E7B3EA31BE5":"Vissel Kobe,Barcelona,Barcelona B,Barcelona(U19)","797F91F0051E8E7502912D1DDA7DF5C1":"Spain","99B9FE00554E753D0BC6E1E16DA9F791":"Vissel Kobe","FAF88D97B63B269A":"171cm","46F0C72A3415188ABA1E996C06156FBC05C24372D6636D63":"1","BCB817AACBF8A2A6870B9B82788BC0CB":"1","BFA4903D06441BD5032C18CFE9B50683":"
CLUB
<\/U><\/STRONG>Barcelona
<\/STRONG>La Liga: 2004-05, 2005-06, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11, 2012-13, 2014-15, 2015-16, 2017-18
Copa del Rey: 2008-09, 2011-12, 2014-15, 2015-16, 2017-18
Supercopa de Espana: 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016
UEFA Champions League: 2005-06, 2008-09, 2010-11, 2014-15
UEFA Super Cup: 2009, 2011, 2015
FIFA Club World Cup: 2009, 2011, 2015
INTERNATIONAL
<\/U><\/STRONG>Spain
<\/STRONG>FIFA World Cup: 2010
UEFA European Football Championship: 2008, 2012
UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship: 2002
UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship: 2001
INDIVIDUAL
<\/U>UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament:<\/STRONG>
2008, 2012
La Liga Best Spanish Player:<\/STRONG>
2009
La Liga Best Attacking Midfielder:<\/STRONG>
2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
La Liga di Stéfano Trophy:<\/STRONG>
2nd best player in 2008–09, 3rd in 2011–12
FIFA FIFPro World XI:
<\/STRONG>2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
UEFA Team of the Year:
<\/STRONG>2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016
Onze de Bronze:<\/STRONG>
2009
FIFA World Cup Dream Team:<\/STRONG>
2010
FIFA Ballon d'Or:<\/STRONG>
2nd place 2010, 4th place 2011, 3rd Place 2012
UEFA Champions League top assist provider:
<\/STRONG>2010–11
ESM Team of the Year:
<\/STRONG>2010–11
Onze d'Argent:
<\/STRONG>2011
Marca Legend Award:<\/STRONG>
2011
UEFA Best Player in Europe Award:
<\/STRONG>2012
UEFA Euro Player of the Tournament:
<\/STRONG>2012
IFFHS World's Best Playmaker:
<\/STRONG>2012, 2013
FIFA Confederations Cup Silver Ball:
<\/STRONG>2013
La Liga top assist provider:<\/STRONG>
2012–13
Golden Foot:<\/STRONG>
2014
UEFA Champions League Team of the Season:<\/STRONG>
2014–15, 2015–16
UEFA Ultimate Team of the Year (published 2015)<\/STRONG>
FIFA Club World Cup Bronze Ball:<\/STRONG>
2015
France Football World XI:<\/STRONG>
2015
La Liga Team of the Season:
<\/STRONG>2015–16
UEFA Euro All-time XI (published 2016)<\/STRONG><\/P>","BA50BEB0DB40F3ADF7C4575FF4221F17":"","2134628892B06B90":"Andres Iniesta Lujan","D41F91B0720932DCFCEBDA572EB68D71":"1984-5-11","C403D9D9F071ACF5":"12637","46F0C72A3415188A868170E78E72CF24":"0","EABD711929A60B526AB9CD802EC5F0A7":"8","6A0E980854EFD8AD1B424574AD15DF0D":"2023-8-8","BDC97245F9A52F8B":"3781","411CCFA197052F93":"Andres Iniesta Lujan","60DC9D976694DF52":"1","8025E7E497D77CF6":"Emirates Club","e_index":9};