He received from Cesc Fàbregas and hit him across the crossbar to make Stekelenburg’s stretched goal sterile, 116th minute of extra time in the final of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Goal and glory for Andrés Iniesta, who scored the most important goal in the history of Spain. A target to remember as the football of the Fuentealbilla (Albacete) player will be from now on, who at 40 years old and after marking an era with the ball tied to his feet, will soon announce his retirement. The still footballer announced this morning, through social networks, an event for October 8 – a date that refers to his favorite number – to talk about his future.
Iniesta intended from Dubai, where he is finishing his last passes and breaks, to continue playing a little more, but that might not be the case. It all started in a Brunete tournament, when as a child he unleashed a boom that could not be contained. Growing up in Albacete and signed in 1996 by Barcelona, he developed slowly at La Masia as he also settled into the first team, validated by Louis Van Gaal and then finding opportunities with Rijkaard. His ability to discount rivals, his unique foot for the pass and ability to protect the ball soon made the midfielder – although he also acted as a winger, even though he didn’t like it that much – an indispensable piece for Barcelona, another symbol of a team. that achieved glory with Guardiola at the helm and with youth players like Xavi, Puyol and Valdés as teammates, later complemented by others like Piqué, Busquets, Pedro…. A golden team that led Iniesta to lift four Champions, three Club World Cups, nine Leagues, three European and seven Spanish Super Cups, and six Copa del Rey. With Spain, in the same way, he also won everything, as he participated in the best version of the team, winner of Euro 2008 and 2012, in addition to the World Cup.
Iniesta wants to continue, in his words, in the world of football, because he wants to get his coaching license. “Obviously I would like to return to Barça at some point in my life, because that’s how I feel, but to say now the moment or in what way I don’t know, nor does anyone know, we’re going to see how things are going during this time and Then we will see where we are,” he said a few weeks ago at an event in our country. Surely in Can Barça and with Laporta at the helm, he will find his place.
