Andres Iniesta has announced his retirement from football at the age of 40.<\/p>\n
One of the most inventive and elegant midfielders of all time, the 131-times capped Spain international won European and world crowns with both his national team and his beloved Barcelona.<\/p>\n
Here, FIFA pays tribute with some unique stories and statistics from Don Andres’ incredible career.<\/p>\n
Tears and posters
\nFuentealbilla has a population of around 2,000. When a 12-year-old Iniesta left it for Barcelona \u2013 a metropolis with 1.6 million inhabitants \u2013 he \u201ccried rivers\u201d. It didn\u2019t get much better for him at La Masia. He was innately shy, self-conscious because a skin pigmentation rendered him pale. \u201cI cried myself to sleep every night,\u201d he said. \u201cI wanted to go home but my dad kept talking me into staying.\u201d<\/p>\n
Iniesta hung posters of Hollywood actress Catherine Zeta Jones and Barcelona captain Pep Guardiola beside his bunk. When the latter witnessed him play, on the prompting of his brother Pere, he declared, \u201cI\u2019ve seen a 14-year-old who reads the game better than me.\u201d Guardiola sent Iniesta a signed photograph addressed to \u201cthe best player I have ever seen\u201d. Uplifted, the kid began to feel less self-conscious and interact more with his colleagues.<\/p>\n
First impressions
\nOut of the blue, Iniesta was summoned to train with Barcelona\u2019s first-team squad in February 2001. Jitters turned to panic when he got lost, but Luis Enrique was sent to find the 16-year-old. His nerves didn\u2019t show once finally out on grass. Guardiola pulled Xavi, 21, aside and told him: \u201cRemember this day \u2013 the day you first played with Andres. You\u2019re going to retire me. This lad is going to retire us all.\u201d<\/p>\n
International starlet
\nIniesta, alongside Fernando Torres, starred at the FIFA U-17 World Cup\u2122 in 2001, though a 4-2 loss to an Argentina side including Pablo Zabaleta, Javier Mascherano and Carlos Tevez saw Spain crash out in the group stage. The Albaceteno was then one of the standout performers at the FIFA U-20 World Cup\u2122 two years later, helping La Roja finish runners-up to Brazil.<\/p>\n
No thanks, Madrid
\nReal Madrid tried to sign Iniesta in 2007. \u201cHe was a phenomenon,\u201d said their former director Predrag Mijatovic. \u201cHe had a very high release clause, but we really wanted him and were determined to pay it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fortunately for Cul\u00e9s, despite contract talks with Barelona having broken down, he declared: \u201cWhen I say I want to retire at Bar\u00e7a, I say it with all my heart. This wish comes before everything else.\u201d<\/p>\n
Iniesta eventually agreed on a new contract in 2008, with his buy-out clause being hiked from \u20ac\u06f6\u06f0 million to \u20ac\u06f1\u06f5\u06f0 million. That still didn\u2019t put Madrid off, who went in for him the following year. \u201cI\u2019m very surprised by the speculation because I\u2019ve always been very clear: I want to spend the rest of my career at Bar\u00e7a.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ecstasy in Austria
\nIniesta was pivotal as Spain won their first UEFA EURO crown in 44 years in 2008. He was the only member of Luis Aragones\u2019s squad to start every game, was named Man of the Match in a semi-final defeat of Russia, and dazzled in the final victory over Germany at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion in Vienna.<\/p>\n
The main man
\nIf Iniesta\u2019s contribution to Barcelona\u2019s 2005\/06 UEFA Champions League triumph was bit-part, his contribution to their glory three seasons later was instrumental. An improvised, outside-of-the-boot finish from outside the box, deep into stoppage time, snatched them victory over Chelsea in the semi-finals.<\/p>\n
\u201cI’m not obsessed with Messi, said Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson before the final. \u201cIniesta\u2019s the one we have to stop.\u201d Unfortunately for the Scot, his troops couldn\u2019t, as he set up the first and sparkled throughout a 2-0 win in Rome.<\/p>\n
Rock bottom
\nThe sudden death of Dani Jarque, his close friend and former Spain youth team-mate, in August 2009 crushed Iniesta. \u201cI fell into a deep depression,\u201d he said. \u201cI was in a really, really bad place.\u201d<\/p>\n
His troubles heightened on turf. Iniesta, indeed, was plagued by injuries throughout the season, and suffered a total rupture of the right femoral biceps\u2019 muscle in mid-April, leaving the pitch in tears. Vicente del Bosque, who was set to name Spain\u2019s squad for the FIFA World Cup\u2122 the following month, and Barcelona coach Guardiola both considered it extremely unlikely he would make the plane to South Africa.<\/p>\n
Iniesta made a rapid recovery but was only able to see another half-hour of action in Blaugrana before the campaign concluded \u2013 one in which he registered just one goal in 40 appearances. Despite that, Del Bosque included him in his squad, admitting it was a \u201cbig risk\u201d and that he only took it because it was Iniesta. The player later admitted travelling to the World Cup with his confidence shot.<\/p>\n
Durban disaster
\nSpain were the pre-tournament favourites \u2013 a status that was shed at the first hurdle. If being stunned 1-0 by Switzerland wasn\u2019t devastating enough \u2013 no side had lost their opener and recovered to win a World Cup \u2013 their No6 hitting the Moses Mabhida Stadium turf in agony, after a ferocious Stephan Lichtsteiner challenge, heightened the blow.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought that was it,\u201d said Iniesta. \u201cI didn\u2019t want to do any tests the next day because I was sure I would be on a flight back to Barcelona.\u201d<\/p>\n
Iniesta missed the 2-0 win over Honduras and had all but accepted his tournament was over until Spain\u2019s physical therapist scored a fundamental goal in their quest for global glory. \u201cAt one point I was working on that spot and while I did, it loosened up,\u201d explained Raul Martinez. Iniesta added: \u201cHe pressed the button and it was immediate. I felt the muscle had loosened. I moved and ran freely, which I had not done in a long time. Thanks to him I was back playing like I wanted.\u201d<\/p>\n
Career capstone
\nSpain required victory over a formidable Chile side in their final Group H game to make sure of a place in the knockout phase. Iniesta\u2019s winner secured it, then he excelled as they tiki-taka\u2019d their way to the Soccer City showpiece.<\/p>\n
One-hundred-and-sixteen goalless minutes had passed. Iniesta, a left-lying playmaker, uncharacteristically appeared in a right-sided position a striker would usually take up. \u201cYou wondered, \u2018What is he doing?\u2019 said Xavi laughing.<\/p>\n
Iniesta explained: \u201cI knew exactly how I had to shoot and, at the same time, I knew I had to be really quick. Fate made that ball go where it had to.\u201d It was the goal that crowned Spain world champions after 80 years of trying.<\/p>\n
The tribute
\nIniesta hadn\u2019t planned a homage to his late friend. \u201cJust as I was going out to warm-up for the final, the idea came to me,\u201d he explained. \u201cI asked a member of the delegation to make a t-shirt with a message for Dani on it. I wanted to pay tribute to him.\u201d<\/p>\n
When his arrow hit the bottom-left corner, the habitually low-key Iniesta ripped off his jersey, showcasing a t-shirt with the message, \u2018Dani Jarque siempre com nosotros\u2019 (Dani Jarque always with us), and screamed hysterically.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat moment was magical,\u201d said Iniesta, wiping away a tear. \u201cIt was something I really wanted to do for Dani, his family. It was the perfect stage, the perfect moment to pay tribute.\u201d<\/p>\n
A national idol
\nIniesta received multiple standing ovations from opposition fans in the season following South Africa 2010. One was even in the Catalan Derby, with the Espanyol followers indebted to him for seizing Spain football\u2019s most prestigious trophy and for paying homage to their beloved former captain Jarque.<\/p>\n
Unplayable<\/p>\n
Iniesta was arguably at the peak of his powers at EURO 2012. He was named Man of the Match in three of Spain\u2019s six outings, electrified in a 4-0 thumping of Italy in the final, and was crowned Player of the Tournament.<\/p>\n
Bernabeu reception
\nFollowing a cosmic exhibition in a 4-0 win at Real Madrid in 2015, Iniesta became the third player to receive a standing ovation from the Bernabeu crowd. The distinction has been bestowed upon Diego Maradona and Ronaldinho in 1983 and 2005 respectively.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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