“I never thought that this day would come. All the tears we have shed in recent days are tears of emotion and pride. They are not tears of sadness, they are tears of that boy from Fuentealbilla who dreamed of becoming a footballer and I have it done, we did it. I realized my dream of becoming a professional footballer, it was what I wanted most.” With these words, through tears, Andres Iniesta announced his farewell to football. An adventure that began 30 years ago, in the dirt fields of Fuentealbilla and continued in the youth teams of Albacete. Then the big leap, towards the Masia and a club that quickly made him one of the strongest and most complete midfielders in the world.
Don Andrés was one of the cornerstones of Barcelona which reached unexplored heights, in terms of play and results: 4 Champions Leagues, 3 Club World Cups, 9 championships, 3 European Super Cups, 6 King’s Cups and 7 Spanish Super Cups. Always indispensable, a silent leader who always let his performance speak for itself. Few words as few were the goals, all very important: from the one at Stamford Bridge in the 2009 Champions League semi-final, without which perhaps Guardiola’s cycle would not have begun, to the one in the 2010 World Cup final which made him immortal, a legend of the sport.
He won everything and took his class around the world, he interpreted the role in a unique way: dynamism, speed, quick thinking and action, precision, personality, winning mentality. Pressing and finishing, quality and running, always at the service of the team. He would, perhaps, have deserved the Ballon d’Or, but that is another story and certainly, today, it cannot be a regret. When he looks back, Iniesta will only find the beauty that dazzled all lovers of this sport.