Andres Iniesta, Spain

Personal information
Full name	Andrés Iniesta Luján
Date of birth	11 May 1984 (age 30)
Place of birth	Fuentealbilla, Spain
Height	1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Playing position	Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Barcelona
Number	8
Youth career
1994–1996	Albacete
1996–2001	Barcelona
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2001–2003	Barcelona B	54	(5)
2002–	Barcelona	337	(33)
National team‡
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)
2006–	Spain	95	(12)
Honours  Spain Winner UEFA U-17 Championship 2001 Winner UEFA U-19 Championship 2002 Runner-up FIFA U-20 World Cup 2003 Winner UEFA Euro 2008 Winner FIFA World Cup 2010 Winner UEFA Euro 2012
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17 May 2014. † Appearances (Goals).‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 30 May 2014

Age: 29

Club: Barcelona

There’s nothing like pedigree and experience when it comes to FIFA World Cups, so to have Andres Iniesta—a man who won the 2010 edition alongside two European Championships—on your side is a big bonus.

Vicente Del Bosque will have some very tough decisions to make regarding his selections for Spain’s first-choice midfield, and there’s a chance Barcelona stalwart Xavi may not play a pivotal role.

His colleague, Cesc Fabregas, threatens to swoop in and take his place, but no such warning can be presented to Iniesta, whose silky feet and immense vision remain irreplaceable at this level.

“Andresito” is quietly putting together another excellent season at club level and impressed at the 2013 Confederations Cup.

He scored the extra-time winner against the Netherlands in 2010; would you bet against him repeating those heroics four years later