Andrés Iniesta Luján (Spanish pronunciation: [anˈdɾes iˈnjesta luˈxan]; born 11 May 1984) is

a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder and is the captain of J1 League
club Vissel Kobe. Considered one of the greatest midfielders of all time,[3][4][5] Iniesta has
spent most of his career at Barcelona, where he served as the captain for three seasons.

Andrés Iniesta
Andrés Iniesta (cropped).jpg
Iniesta with Spain in 2017
Personal information
Full name
Andrés Iniesta Luján[1]
Date of birth
11 May 1984 (age 38)[1]
Place of birth
Fuentealbilla, Spain
Height
1.71 m (5 ft 7 in)[2]
Position(s)
Midfielder
Club information
Current team
Vissel Kobe
Number
8
Youth career
1994–1996
Albacete
1996–2001
Barcelona
Senior career*
Years
Team
Apps
(Gls)
2001–2003
Barcelona B
49
(5)
2002–2018
Barcelona
442
(35)
2018–
Vissel Kobe
110
(21)
International career
2000
Spain U15
2
(0)
2000–2001
Spain U16
7
(1)
2001
Spain U17
4
(0)
2001–2002
Spain U19
7
(1)
2003
Spain U20
7
(3)
2003–2006
Spain U21
18
(6)
2004–2005
Catalonia
2
(0)
2006–2018
Spain
131
(13)
Honours
Men's football
Representing Spain
FIFA World Cup
Winner 2010 South Africa
UEFA European Championship
Winner 2008 Austria–Switzerland
Winner 2012 Poland–Ukraine
FIFA Confederations Cup
Runner-up 2013 Brazil
FIFA U-20 World Cup
Runner-up 2003 United Arab Emirates
UEFA U-19 Championship
Winner 2002 Norway
UEFA U-17 Championship
Winner 2001 England
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:20, 5 November 2022 (UTC)
Iniesta came through La Masia, the Barcelona youth academy, after an early migration 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 remained in the team until
2018. Iniesta was an integral part of the Barcelona sides that won two historic trebles in
2009 and 2015, and his 35 trophies, which includes nine La Ligas and four UEFA
Champions League titles, make him the most decorated Spanish footballer of all time.[6]
After 22 years at Barcelona, Iniesta signed for Japanese club Vissel Kobe in 2018.

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 UEFA 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 FIFA 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 UEFA 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 has been named in the FIFA FIFPro World XI nine times and was chosen in the
UEFA Team of the Year on six occasions. He was named in the All-time UEFA Euro XI. He
won the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award in 2012 and was named the IFFHS World's Best
Playmaker in 2012 and 2013. Iniesta was runner-up to Lionel Messi for the 2010 FIFA Ballon
d'Or and achieved third place in 2012.

Club career
Edit
FC Barcelona
Edit
Early career
Edit
Iniesta comes from Fuentealbilla, a small village in the province of Albacete, Castile–La
Mancha, where he mostly played futsal due to the lack of football pitches in the village.[7] At
the age of 12, while playing for Albacete Balompié in a junior seven-a-side tournament in
Albacete, he attracted the attention of scouts from clubs around Spain.[8] His parents knew
Barcelona's youth team coach, Enrique Orizaola, and he persuaded them to consider
sending Iniesta to the Barcelona youth academy. Iniesta traveled there with his parents and
visited La Masia, the farmhouse where the club houses its young players; the trip convinced
them to enroll Iniesta in the Barcelona youth ranks.[9]

"Receive, pass, offer, receive, pass, offer."

—Iniesta on La Masia education of ball retention, passing and using space[10]

Iniesta says he "cried rivers" the day he left for La Masia and struggled being separated from
his parents;[11] he was very shy and kept to himself while there.[12] He captained the
Barcelona Under-15 team to victory in the Nike Premier Cup of 1999, scoring the winning
goal in the last minute of the final, and was named player of the tournament. Just after
Iniesta arrived at the club, then-captain Pep Guardiola famously told fellow midfielder Xavi:
"You're going to retire me. This lad [Iniesta] is going to retire us all."[13]
2004–2008
Edit

Iniesta with Barcelona in 2006

Iniesta joined the first team during the tenure of Radomir Antić. On 29 October 2002, he
made his first team debut in a 1–0 away win against Club Brugge in the UEFA Champions
League group stage. In the 2004–05 season, he featured in 37 out of 38 league
games—more than any other player—although 25 of these were substitute appearances. He
scored twice as Barcelona won La Liga.[14] An injury to Xavi at the start of the 2005–06
season allowed Iniesta more regular starts in the centre of midfield, and he continued to
improve and develop.[15] He played in 11 UEFA Champions League games, including a
half-time appearance in the 2006 final, to replace Edmílson.[16] His contribution to the team
was praised by manager Frank Rijkaard as Barcelona won a league and Champions League
double.[17]

The 2006–07 season saw Iniesta's profile continue to rise and he earned plaudits for his
willingness to play in any position for his team. In the pre-season, he lifted the Joan Gamper
Trophy as the captain of the team after a 4–0 victory over German side Bayern Munich.
Iniesta played for the first time as a left wing-forward for Barça in two Champions League
matches against Levski Sofia, finding the net twice. In the first knockout stage of the same
competition, he played in central midfield against Liverpool. Despite being moved around the
pitch by manager Rijkaard, the 2006–07 season remains Iniesta's highest scoring thus far.

With the departure of Ludovic Giuly ahead of the 2007–08 campaign, Iniesta was able to
switch his number 24 shirt for his preferred number 8.[18] Despite rumours of a possible
transfer before the season,[19] he extended his contract to 2014 on 25 January 2008,[20]
with his buy-out clause being raised to €150 million.[21] Don Balón, a member of European
Sports Magazines, named Iniesta one of the most consistent performers in the previous two
seasons of La Liga; he placed fifth in 2006–07 and fourth in 2007–08.[22][23] He also placed
ninth in the 2008 FIFA World Player of the Year voting, gaining 37 total points.[24]

2008–09
Edit
At the start of the 2008–09 season, in September 2008, Iniesta was elected the
fourth-choice captain behind, in order of preference, Carles Puyol, Xavi and Víctor Valdés;
all four were products of the Barcelona youth system.[25] His performances throughout the
season were highly lauded, and he received standing ovations both in Barcelona at the
Camp Nou, as well as from rival supporters in away matches.[26] A leg injury sustained in
mid-November 2008 left Iniesta sidelined until 3 January; initially expected to return to action
in six weeks, he did not want to come back until he was 100 percent. Upon his return to
action on 3 January, as a 65th-minute substitute against Mallorca, he scored a crucial goal
after just ten minutes on the pitch and completed a Barcelona comeback in front of the
Camp Nou.[27] 3 days later, he captained Barcelona for the first time in an official match, a
3–1 victory against Atlético Madrid at the Vicente Calderón in the round-of-16 first leg of the
Copa del Rey.
Iniesta sustained another injury during a home match against Málaga, but returned to action
for the first leg Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich on 8 April, which
Barcelona won 4–0.[28] He scored a vital equaliser in the final minute of stoppage time
during the second leg of the Champions League semi-final against Chelsea, with a curling
strike with the outside of his right foot 25 yards from goal, securing the tie on away goals as
the match finished 1–1 at Stamford Bridge.[29] In the season review, Un Any Al Paradis,
Iniesta wrote, "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."[30]

"I knew I would play injured and do more damage. For 17 days, all I thought about was the
final in Rome and winning, even knowing that I would do more damage. I'd repeat it, for sure.
I love this club and my profession and I wanted to win. If we had lost the final that would
have been a total disaster."

—Iniesta on the victorious 2009 UEFA Champions League Final[31]

Iniesta's goal against Chelsea sent Barcelona through to the final in Rome against defending
champions Manchester United. Prior to the final, United manager Alex Ferguson identified
Iniesta as Barça's biggest threat: "He's fantastic. He makes the team work. The way he finds
passes, his movement and ability to create space is incredible. He's so important for
Barcelona."[11] Despite a thigh injury, Iniesta played and was influential in the game,
providing the assist for the first goal scored by Samuel Eto'o as his team went on to win
2–0.[32] In his analysis, David Pleat wrote, "In the end the midfield artistry of Iniesta and
Xavi, helped by [Lionel] Messi, was the critical factor."[33] After the game, United striker
Wayne Rooney described Iniesta as the best player in the world.[34]

Iniesta received plaudits for his performances that season; Don Balón rated him as the
league's most consistent performer.[35] Later that year, he placed fifth for the 2009 FIFA
World Player of the Year award, with 134 votes,[36] and fourth for the Ballon d'Or, receiving
149 points.[37] Barcelona extended his contract by one year, until 2015, and raised his
buy-out clause to €200 million.[38]

2009–2012
Edit
Barcelona won a second successive league title in the 2009–10 season, securing a record
99 points. Individually, however, Iniesta endured a campaign largely disrupted by recurring
injuries. He missed pre-season fitness training due to the thigh tear suffered in the 2009
Champions League final.[39] Despite featuring in almost as many matches as the previous
season, he did so mostly as a substitute, starting only 20 games throughout.[40] His season
came to a premature end in April after he aggravated a previous calf injury during
training.[41]

Iniesta playing against Rubin Kazan in the UEFA Champions League, October 2009
A contributing factor of Iniesta's fractured season were the episodes of psychological
instability he suffered privately following the death of his close friend Daniel Jarque, a fellow
footballer, in August 2009. Even when physically fit, he was often unable to complete training
sessions or exert himself. After seeking psychological help, including from psychologist Inma
Puig,[42] he experienced catharsis when he scored Spain's match-winning goal in the 2010
FIFA World Cup final, which he dedicated to Jarque by revealing the message "Dani Jarque,
always with us" written on his undershirt.[43] "I did it because I felt it deeply," Iniesta said at
the time. "It showed that what is more important than rivalry, your team or your colours is to
be human and a good person. I am delighted because it was the most important moment in
my career."[44] Regarding the recurrent injuries that plagued his season, he said, "It was
hard, but I will start with more desire than ever."[44]

Iniesta scored his first goal of the 2010–11 season during the opening league fixture against
Racing de Santander, lobbing the ball into the net from a distance of 30 yards.[45]
Throughout the campaign, he received standing ovations from opposition fans, including at
El Sardinero and the Vicente Calderón Stadium, in appreciation of his World Cup-winning
goal.[46] Another standing ovation came on the home pitch of Espanyol in the Derbi
barceloní, with the crowd acknowledging his friendship with Daniel Jarque, Espanyol's
captain at the time of his death.[47] Iniesta was one of the three finalists for the 2010 FIFA
Ballon d'Or alongside Xavi and Messi, placing as runner-up behind the Argentine.[48]

Iniesta started the 2011–12 season by scoring the opening goal in the second leg of the
Supercopa de España against rivals Real Madrid. Barcelona went on to win the match 3–2
and the cup 5–4 on aggregate. One of his best goals followed in October against Viktoria
Plzeň in the Champions League group stage after an interchange of passes with Messi.
Iniesta played a record 51 matches unbeaten in La Liga, concluding with Barcelona's 2–0
defeat of Mallorca on 24 March.[49] In the Champions League, he ended a goal drought by
scoring a vital goal against Milan in the quarter-finals. From there, he went on to score in the
semi-final against Chelsea to make the scoreline 2–0, but the match ended 2–2, eliminating
his team 3–2 on aggregate. Towards the end of the year, on 25 November, Iniesta was
named man of the match after scoring one goal and providing three assists in a 4–0 win over
Levante.[50] His performances earned him third place in the voting of the 2012 FIFA Ballon
d'Or.[51]

Iniesta lifting the 2015 UEFA Super Cup trophy

2013–2018
Edit
Iniesta signed a new contract with Barcelona in December 2013, keeping him at the club
until 2018.[52] As vice-captain, he regularly captained Barça throughout the club's second
treble-winning campaign of the 2014–15 season, and became captain after Carles Puyol's
retirement and Xavi's departure. Iniesta scored three times during the team's Copa del Rey
campaign,[53] and was man of the match in the 2015 UEFA Champions League Final,
having assisted Ivan Rakitić's opening goal in the 3–1 defeat of Italian champions Juventus
at Berlin's Olympiastadion.[54] Their European victory made Barcelona the first club in
history to win the treble of domestic league, domestic cup and European Cup twice;[55]
Iniesta was among the seven players to have been a part of both treble-winning teams.[55]

During the first Clásico of the 2015–16 season, on 21 November, Iniesta became only the
third Barcelona player, after Diego Maradona in 1983 and Ronaldinho in 2005, to receive
applause from Real Madrid fans at the Santiago Bernabéu.[56] His man-of-the-match
performance included a goal and an assist, contributing to a resounding 4–0 victory.[57]
He signed a lifetime contract with Barcelona on 6 October 2017, effectively keeping him with
the club for the remainder of his career.[58] He played the 650th game of his career for
Barcelona against Levante on 7 January 2018, he was replaced by André Gomes after 76
minutes as the game ended 3–0 in favour of Barcelona.[59]

Despite signing a lifetime contract, on 27 April 2018, Iniesta announced he would be leaving
Barcelona by the end of the season.[60] He made his 674th and final appearance for
Barcelona on 20 May, in the final league match of the season, a 1–0 home victory over Real
Sociedad, as Barcelona celebrated the victory of their 25th league and 30th Copa del Rey
title; he came off in the 81st minute for Paco Alcácer.[61]

Vissel Kobe
Edit
On 24 May 2018, Japanese club Vissel Kobe announced the signing of Iniesta on a
three-year deal.[62] He made his debut on 22 July, coming on as a second-half substitute for
Kazuma Watanabe in a 0–3 defeat against Shonan Bellmare.[63] On 11 August 2018,
Iniesta scored his first goal in the J1 League in a 2–1 win over Jubilo Iwata.[64]

On 21 December 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.[65] On 1 January 2020, he 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.[66] A month later, he also won the 2020 Japanese Super Cup.[67] On 7
December 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.[68] He had a successful surgery in Barcelona a few days
later.[69]

On 11 May 2021, Iniesta signed a contract extension with Vissel Kobe, keeping him at the
club for another two seasons.[70] On 11 November 2021, he was named J.League Monthly
MVP after scoring three league goals in October.[71] He was named in the 2021 J.League
Best XI on 6 December 2021.[72]

On 14 May 2022, Iniesta scored a goal and guided Vissel Kobe to first league win of the
2022 season in a 4–0 win over Sagan Tosu.[73]