A painter… a magician… a creator… call it whatever you want. All descriptions suit one of the best midfielders in the history of football, and a maker of golden moments with FC Barcelona and the Spanish national team.
He is Andres Iniesta, the midfield engineer who worked his way up from a young age in the “La Masia” academy in Barcelona, to become, over time, one of the pillars of the team and one of the most prominent creators of the club’s golden era, which many consider to be one of the most beautiful periods of football ever.
Known for his magic touches, perfect passes, and sweeping vision of the pitch, Iniesta was the quiet element who drew the outlines of the Catalan art of “tica-tacca” with an ever-present smile.
But that smile was also a cover for deep suffering. In 2009, while he was at the peak of his career, he received news of the death of his close friend Danny Kharkei, which left him in a state of helplessness and loss of desire for everything he loved, even football.
However, Iniesta did not give up his passion on the field, which turned him into a national symbol in Spain, when he scored the decisive goal against the Netherlands, in the 116th minute, of the 2010 World Cup final, giving his country its first title in the history of the tournament.
Despite the great joy of victory, Iniesta found at that moment an ideal opportunity to honor his late friend, so he revealed a shirt dedicated to him during the celebration, to confirm that his heart held more than just a love for football; Rather, he has a deep love for his friends and their memories that will never leave him.
Now, after many years spent spreading his magic on the green carpet, the curtain has come down on the story of a player who forced his opponents before his comrades to applaud him and admire what he presented on and off the field.
