A Tribute to Andres Iniesta

The shortlist regarding potential candidates for the Fifa World Player of the Year has just been released, causing many pundits to acknowledge Lionel Messi as the rightful winner. Other glamorous players, such as Fernando Torres, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Samuel Eto’o also littered the list. Granted, Messi has had a terrific season at Barcelona, has altered results simply on his own at times in La Liga and was instrumental, playing as a makeshift second striker, in Barcelona’s triumph versus Manchester United, and in general during the Catalan club’s European campaign.

It was of course, Messi’s linking with Barcelona’s central midfielders which allowed for total domination of United’s midfield. It was also the composure and cool-head of Messi, which amid the immense emotion accumulated during the match, looked for the pass when many others would have shot and laid off the strike which knocked Chelsea out of the semi-finals.

However, I’m calling for the man who personally delivered that fatal blow at Stamford Bridge, to be awarded both the Fifa award and the Ballon d’Or. I’m nominating the man who Wayne Rooney proclaimed as the world’s best player, the man without whom Barcelona’s passing game simply does not look the same, the man who single-handedly drove Carlos Tevez, Michael Carrick, and Anderson ragged during the Champions League final. I am of course, referring to one Andres Iniesta.

Born in Albacete, Iniesta was always the ‘odd one out’ at La Masia, Barcelona’s youth academy. An acute form of albinism lead to the nickname, ‘the white prince’, and Iniesta, as Sid Lowe puts it, had to ‘fight for respect’ in the Barcelona youth side. In 2004, Iniesta was introduced to the first team, and slowly began to establish himself as reliable outlet, able to play practically in any position ahead of the defence. However, he was never truly trusted by Frank Rijkaard, who continued to use the little Spaniard as a skilled utility player, to fill in empty holes in the side. Iniesta, simply kept playing, kept putting in good performances, awaiting his chance to shine.

Unlike the Samuel Eto’os or Cristiano Ronaldo’s of this world Iniesta does not wear an earring, cannot be seen in flashy designer clothes on the front-cover of every women’s magazine and does not cruise into training in a pimped-out sports car. He’s simply Iniesta, the little guy, with a receding hairline and pale skin, something which until Pep Guardiola’s establishment at the hot seat of the Camp Nou, caused an ignorance of Iniesta’s extraordinary ability from the media.

Guardiola helped propel Iniesta to new heights

Guardiola’s arrival was the one which catalysed Iniesta’s ascendency to the peak of world football. Guardiola knew exactly of the ingenious talent he possessed, and quick constructed a midfield trident of Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez, supported by Yaya Toure. This continuity within a central midfield position, supported by one of the finest exponents of Barcelona’s pass-and-move philosophy in the world, allowed for Iniesta to blossom fully into the spotlight.

What had been gradually building up for two years, finally exploded, as Iniesta’s ability to control the ball with ease when sprinting, his quick nimble feet supplemented by lightning agility and excellent eye for a pass, ensured the whole of Europe stood and applauded him. His style is similar to that of Zinedine Zidane, only perhaps more efficient with the ball than Zidane, and with a slight burst of acceleration, allowing him to drive past opponents at more easily.

Sid Lowe points out that before the 24th May, Barcelona lost three times in La Liga last year, and it was no coincidence that on each occasion, Iniesta was absent. While Messi’s unpredictability, trickery, movement and pace was enough to unhinge most defences, it was Iniesta, combined with Xavi, who ignited Barcelona’s attacking play, allowed the side to retain the ball effortlessly, fed the front three with the type of through balls they could only dream of, and worked tremendously hard in applying pressure to the opposition.

I finish this article with a video of Iniesta’s wonder performance in the Champions League final. His assist for Samuel Eto’o's goal epitomised the man; leaving Anderson for dead and Carrick trailing, instead of pinging a shot towards the top corner as many players would have done, he played the ball to Eto’o, who thanked Iniesta by finishing of what he had started, with a goal. His performance in that night, which permeated the Manchester United’s midfield, was simply a joy to behold.

He exposed Carrick and Anderson effortlessly and defied the thought among many English scouts that players need pace, physical strength and power to succeed at the top level; Iniesta trades in none of those talents, yet plays opposition midfields like a game, not with brute force and physicality, yet with sublime technique, creativity, positioning, and tactical awareness of the highest order. To see such a small frame toying with larger forces and succeeding, is so refreshing to watch in a results-driven game, in which many teams now try to batter their way through teams as opposed to playing their way through.

Iniesta is the general of Barcelona’s play, commanding the ball as and how he pleases, feeding those around him with the ball as and when their position’s deserve  it, creating a spectacle for all football fans watching.

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