Andrés Iniesta, former Spanish midfielder, is considered one of the greatest midfielders of all time. He is famous for his skills and composure.
He played most of his career at Barcelona, debuting in 2002 and playing until 2018, becoming a key figure in the teams that won two trebles.
With 35 titles, including 9 La Liga championships and 4 Champions League titles, he is the Spanish football player with the most titles. After Barcelona, he played for Vissel Kobe and Emirates, retiring in October 2024.
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- Full name: Andrés Iniesta Luján
- Nicknames: El Ilusionista (The Magician), El Cerebro (The Brain), El Anti-Galáctico (The Anti-Galáctico), El Caballero Pálido (The Pale Knight)
- Date of birth: May 11, 1984
- Age: 40 years old
- Gender: Male
- Place of birth: Fuentealbilla, Spain
- Nationality: Spanish
- Occupation: Professional soccer player (Retired)
- Height: 1.72 meters (5 feet 8 inches)
- Parents: José Antonio Iniesta (father), María Luján (mother)
- Siblings: Maribel Iniesta (sister)
- Spouse: Anna Ortiz (married July 8, 2012)
- Children: Valeria Iniesta Ortiz (daughter, born 2011), Paolo Andrea Iniesta Ortiz (son, born 2015), Siena Iniesta Ortiz (daughter, born 2017), Romeo Iniesta Ortiz (son, born 2019), Olimpia Iniesta Ortiz (daughter, born 2019) 2023)
- Relationship status: Married
- Religion: Catholic
- Ethnicity: Spanish
- Net worth: 90 million USD
Early life and education
At the age of 12, Iniesta left his hometown to join FC Barcelona’s famous youth academy, La Masia.
Despite the difficulties of being away from his family, his special talent was quickly revealed. He captained Barcelona’s U15 team to the 1999 Nike Premier Cup, scoring the winning goal in the final and earning the title of Best Player of the tournament.
Iniesta’s development at La Masia laid the foundations for his future success, emphasizing his technical skills, vision and deep understanding of the game.
Personal life
Andrés Iniesta married Anna Ortiz on 8 July 2012. The couple has five children: Valeria (born 2011), Paolo Andrea (born 2015), Siena (born 2017), Romeo (born 2019) and Olimpia (born 2019). in 2023).
In 2011, Iniesta invested 420,000 euros in his boyhood club, Albacete, becoming its majority shareholder. Two years later, he lent them another 240,000 euros to cover unpaid wages.
In May 2018, Iniesta revealed he had suffered from depression before the 2010 FIFA World Cup due to injury and the death of his close friend Daniel Jarque.
In September 2018, he along with German football player Lukas Podolski campaigned and raised money for victims of the Hokkaido East Iburi earthquake in Japan.
Career
Iniesta’s professional career began when he debuted for Barcelona in 2002 under Radomir Antić. In the following seasons, he became a regular, although often a substitute, progressing under Frank Rijkaard and eventually becoming a key player.
His contract was extended several times, with the buyout clause increased significantly. He is consistently ranked among La Liga’s best players and received votes for FIFA World Player of the Year.
During the 2008–09 season, he was named fourth captain and his performance earned him a standing ovation.
He was injured but played key roles, notably scoring the vital goal against Chelsea in the Champions League semi-finals and assisting the first goal in the Champions League final win over Manchester United.
He continued to be highly regarded, receiving more awards and contract extensions. The 2009–10 season was hampered by injuries and psychological problems following the death of a friend.
Despite these challenges, he maintained a high level of performance, scoring important goals and receiving awards.
His career with Barcelona continued until 2018, when he signed for Vissel Kobe, winning several trophies there, before having a short spell with the Emirates and eventually retiring in year 2024.
His international career with Spain is also covered, highlighting his role in winning the UEFA European Under-16 Championship, the UEFA European Under-19 Championship and many other achievements. other, including his World Cup-winning goal in 2010 and his many best player honours. match prize.
Prize
- UEFA European Championship: 2008, 2012
- FIFA World Cup: 2010
- UEFA European Footballer of the Year Award: 2012
- IFFHS World’s Best Playmaker: 2012, 2013
- Golden Ball: Runner-up in 2010, Third place in 2012
- FIFA FIFPro World XI: Nine times
- UEFA Team of the Year: Six times
Net worth
Andrés Iniesta’s net worth is estimated at $90 million.
This wealth is due to his successful football career, endorsements and investments. His income from playing contracts, especially during his time at FC Barcelona,is substantial.
Social Media
- Instagram: @andresiniesta8
- Twitter: @andresiniesta8
Book
- Artist: Becoming Iniesta by Andrés Iniesta
