Andrés Iniesta

Profile Football Stars | Andrés Iniesta | Iniesta CAME through La Masia, the Barcelona youth academy, and impressed from an early age. Iniesta played for Spain at Under-16, Under-19 and Under-21 levels, before making his international debut in 2006. He was selected for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, playing one game, as Spain went out in the second round. He helped Spain qualify for Euro 2008, and played an Important role in the side as They went on to win the competition, playing every game and being selected in the UEFA Team of the Tournament. Iniesta was selected for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and was a key member of the victorious Spanish side; he scored the winning goal in the final against the Netherlands, also being named Man of the Match, and was selected in the tournament's All-Star Team . He was also the Man of the Match for two other World Cup games.  Andrés Iniesta Luján is a Spanish football player. He currently plays as a central midfielder for La Liga club FC Barcelona, and the Spanish national team.

Iniesta comes from a small village in the province named Fuentealbilla of Albacete, Castile-La Mancha. Iniesta traveled there with his parents and visited La Masia, the Spanish farmhouse where the house Their young team players; the trip convinced them to Enroll Iniesta in the Barcelona youth ranks. The trophy was Presented by one of Iniesta's idols: the then first-team captain Josep Guardiola, Whose poster hung above Iniesta's bed. As a manager, Guardiola would Xavi and Iniesta Make the heart of his Barcelona's treble-winning side of 2009, a decade after his famous prediction. Iniesta rose through the club's youth teams and, by the age of 16, was already the key player for FC Barcelona B. Barcelona manager Louis van Gaal Iniesta handed his first senior-team debut on 29 October 2002, in  UEFA Champions League group game against Club Brugge.

In During his spell with the Spain U21s side, Iniesta was named captain on Several Occasions. Iniesta won his first cap for Spain when he was Brought on at half-time in a friendly against Russia on 27 May 2006. He scored his first goal for Spain in a friendly against England on 7 February 2007. Iniesta proceeded to play a pivotal part in Spain's qualification for Euro 2008 by scoring goals against the likes of Sweden and by assisting the strikers. Iniesta was selected in Spain's squad for the UEFA Euro 2008 in Austria and Switzerland Iniesta was substituted before the penalty shoot out Itself. Iniesta was named in the Team of the Tournament alongside fellow midfielders Xavi and Spain Marcos Senna and six other teammates. For his excellent performances in Spain Helping reach the final of the tournament, Iniesta was shortlisted for the Golden Ball award.

Personal information
Full name Andrés Iniesta Luján
Date of birth 11 May 1984 (age 27)
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
Barcelona 1996-2001

senior careeryears Team
2001-2003 Barcelona B 54 (5)
2002 - Barcelona 258 (25)

National team 

2000-2001 Spain U15 2 (0)
2000-2001 Spain U16 7 (1)
2001-2002 Spain U17 4 (0)
2001-2002 Spain U18 1 (0)
2001-2002 Spain U19 7 (1)
2003-2004 Spain U20 7 (3)
2003-2006 Spain U21 18 (6)
2006 - Spain 63 (10)
2004 Catalonia 1 (0)

Honours

Barcelona
     La Liga (5): 2004-05, 2005-06, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11
     Copa del Rey (1): 2008-09: Runner-up 2010-11
     Supercopa de España (5): 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011
     UEFA Champions League (3): 2005-06, 2008-09, 2010-11
     UEFA Super Cup (2): 2009, 2011; Runner-up 2006
     FIFA Club World Cup (2): 2009, 2011; Runner-up 2006

Spain
     FIFA World Cup: 2010
     UEFA European Football Championship: 2008
     UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship: 2002
     UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship: 2001

Individual
     Euro 2008 Team of the tournament
     Euro 2008 Man Of The Match Vs Russia
     Spanish La Liga Player of the Year: 2009
     La Liga's Best Attacking Midfielder: 2009, 2011
     Trofeo Alfredo Di Stefano: 2nd best player in La Liga 2008-09
     FIFA / FIFPro World XI: 2009, 2010, 2011
     UEFA Team of the Year: 2009, 2010, 2011
     Ballon d'Or: 4th Place 2009
     2010 FIFA World Cup All-Star Team
     2010 FIFA World Cup Man Of The Match vs. Chile, Paraguay and Netherlands
     Prince of Asturias Awards: 2010
     FIFA Ballon d'Or: Second place, 2010, 4th Place 2011
     FIFA Puskas Award: Second place 2009
     Onze d'Or: Third place 2009, 2010 Second place
     UEFA Best Player in Europe Award: 4th Place 2011
     ESM Team of the Year: 2011

Decorations
     Gold Medal of the Royal Order of Sporting Merit: 2011