Iniesta leaves an indelible legacy

SPANISH GREAT: BARCELONA PLAYMAKER WAS ADORED BY FANS AND FEARED BY OPPONENTS

Andres Iniesta scored the most important goal in the history of Spanish football, winning his country the World Cup for the first time in 2010.

The playmaker called time on a sensational career yesterday aged 40, most of which he spent pulling the midfield strings for Barcelona's most decorated side.

Admired and adored in Spain, even by fans of Barca's fiercest rivals, for many Iniesta will go down as the country's finest player.

He was a key figure in the La Roja generation which won two European Championships, either side of their World Cup triumph.

Iniesta came through Barcelona's feted La Masia youth academy, joining the club aged 12, departing 22 years later, shining brightly across 16 seasons with the Catalan giants' first team.

The midfielder, who formed a midfield trio with Xavi Hernandez and Sergio Busquets for a significant part of that spell and linked brilliantly with Lionel Messi, won four Champions Leagues, nine La Liga titles and six Copas del Rey among 32 trophies with Barca.

After finishing at Camp Nou with a domestic league and cup double, Iniesta joined Japanese side Vissel Kobe.