"INIESTA...INIESTA...INIESTA..."

...the crowd sung as the diminutive midfielder salutes the loving fans after his wonder goal against Chelsea in the Champions league semi final last year. The audacious finish epitomised the quality that the football wizard possesses, the Albus Dumbledore of football as to say. Despite this, he stays low key in terms of media attention contrasting to the other high calibre players that revel in the media limelight, lapping up the attention as a dog would when visitors are round. Let’s just say Andres Iniesta is no ordinary footballer.

Andrés Iniesta Luján is a Spanish international midfielder, playing his domestic football at footballing giants FC Barcelona. His willingness to play anywhere on the pitch, coupled with a natural humility, has earned him the sobriquet El Ilusionista, El Anti-Galáctico and most recently San Andrés. All these titles have been hard earnt over a period of many years at the club that he holds so close to his heart. It was after Iniesta’s impressive performance in the Champions League Final that caused Manchester United striker, Wayne Rooney, to claim that he was the best midfielder in the world. But where did Iniesta start??

Iniesta was aged 12 when he joined the youth ranks at Barcelona, playing alongside Arsenal, and fellow Spain international Cesc Fabregas. He began his career as a defensive midfielder, but as he progressed, his attacking flair caused him to upgrade to the more lucrative attacking midfield role. Nevertheless it was only 2006 when Iniesta started to get played regularly in the Barcelona team due to the absence of Xavi, through injury. Since then, he hasn’t looked back and has formed the ultimate partnership with whom else but, Xavi, in the central midfield. He has been one of the most consistent performers in the last few years, proven by the stats and is now starting to break into the top 10 players in the world shortlist, coming in at 9 last year. In the Euros 2008, he helped Spain progress to the final, winning a man of the match performance in the semi final. He consequently was chosen in the tournament team 11 which highlighted his contribution to his national side throughout the tournament.

Nevertheless, Iniesta doesn’t let the media attention get to his head and in my opinion; he is the most unsung hero in the game. So here it is, A BIG SHOUT OUT TO ANDRES INIESTA, arguably the best footballer in the world.