Former players from Barcelona, Manchester City, and Arsenal rank among Andres Iniesta’s favorite footballers of all time.
At a recent event held in Qatar, the ex-Barca star was prompted to list his five all-time favorite players, and neither Lionel Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo was included.
Rather, these were the five players that Iniesta selected as his top choices.
Michael Laudrup
Iniesta became part of the Barcelona academy in 1996, only two years after Laudrup departed from the club.
As a child raised in the nineties, it’s not surprising that a player such as Laudrup captured his imagination.
The Danish luminary was celebrated for his passing, vision, and technical abilities – qualities that Iniesta would later excel in mastering.
"Michael Laudrup has been my idol since I was a child," Iniesta mentioned in a different interview from last year.
“His skill and his elegant playing style, the manner in which he advanced as a midfielder.” "I've aspired to be like him since my childhood."
Xavi
Only Messi had more matches played with Iniesta than Xavi did. The Spanish pair participated in a total of 486 matches together and secured numerous trophies during that period.
Taking the ball away from either of them in their prime was essentially an unachievable feat.
“During an interview last year, Iniesta stated, ‘I played alongside Xavi for many years and have seen him frequently on TV.’”
"He is the perfect player for me due to his ability to manage games." He possesses the skill to deliver accurate passes to the suitable areas and is additionally a leader. "He truly is the perfect midfielder for me."
Pep Guardiola
Guardiola significantly influenced Iniesta as a coach and served as a role model for him throughout his playing career.
Although Iniesta never had the opportunity to play with Guardiola at Barcelona, he admired him during his time at La Masia.
The duo maintains a strong relationship with each other to this day, and similarly, Guardiola regards Iniesta with great respect.
“Many believe the manager aids the players, but in some instances, like with Andres, he assisted me in grasping the game more thoroughly,” Guardiola stated in 2018.
David Silva
Iniesta, recognized as one of the most technically skilled players in Premier League history, also mentioned Silva among his personal favorites.
Although the duo never competed together at the club level, they did feature in 87 matches together on the international scene.
Both Silva and Iniesta exhibited many comparable qualities, from their exceptional passing capabilities to their unique dribbling techniques.
“Personally, I have always had a great fondness for Silva.” “David Silva,” Iniesta remarked in an interview in 2023.
Football isn’t quite the same now that both of them have retired.
Santi Cazorla
A somewhat unexpected choice from Iniesta, but we truly appreciate this selection.
Cazorla is among the most distinct players we've ever witnessed in the Premier League, and Arsenal supporters continue to hold him in extremely high esteem today.
The small Spanish playmaker consistently sought to create opportunities, and he made it all appear so effortless along the way.
Remarkably, the 40-year-old continues to play professional football today, currently competing in the Spanish second division with Real Oviedo.
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