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#2 Andres Iniesta
In recent years, Iniesta’s influence at both club and international level has waned and diminished, due to injury and loss of form. His winning goal at the 2010 World Cup remains his last goal at an international tournament; symbolising the Spaniard’s gradual decline. At this year’s World Cup, he looked slow and sluggish, as he committed more fouls and mistakes than usual.
The mix-up between Sergio Ramos and Andres Iniesta for Morocco’s opening goal was a result of Iniesta’s indecisiveness. Fernando Hierro, therefore, opted to leave him out for the knockout game against Russia; a decision that brought uproar and confusion amongst many Spanish supporters.
Iniesta’s legendary status was confirmed when he struck the winner in the 2010 World Cup final. With the score at 0-0, the match looked set to be decided by a penalty shoot-out. However, an incisive pass from Cesc Fabregas gave Iniesta the chance to put the match to bed and the rest is history.
In the 2012 European Championship final, he provided an inch-perfect to Fabregas, who then teed up David Silva for Spain’s opening goal. Andres’ big match mentality proved pivotal in two of Spain’s international tournament wins and this makes the task of replacing him a seemingly impossible one.
