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#3 Andres Iniesta
He lights up the party whether it's in Spain or in Japan. The greats of the game always stay dear to the club and fans, with their names etched in history books. However, when they choose their retirement destinations in far and unknown lands, they do temporarily slip from the mind.
So we are here to remind you that Andres Iniesta is far from finished and at 37 is very much the heartthrob of the J League. The Japanese top-flight has mostly existed under the shadow of the Chinese Super League. But Barcelona sponsor Rakuten set out to change the trend by introducing Iniesta as their player, in their own club, Vissel Kobe.
In his fourth year with the club, the Spaniard has recorded just over a century of appearances and capped his 100th game with a goal and an assist. His presence ushered in a celebratory era for Vissel Kobe as Iniesta helped them clinch their first ever silverware. They won the 2019 Emperor's Cup which was followed by the Japanese Super Cup in 2020.
Iniesta's magic still hasn't faded as he continues to unlock defenses and move past opponents by dropping shoulders and shimmies with elegance.
#2 Sergio Busquets
The emergence of Pedri and Gavi at Barcelona has been huge for the club, both for their present and future. Ansu Fati has already been the best breakout story from La Masia in recent years and now they have former great legend Xavi at the helm.
Under that mountain somewhere, the presence of Sergio Busquets is one of the most significant positives for the Catalan club. One look at him and there is nothing that will stand out physically. He's not the most imposing looking midfielder, not the fastest and most explosive. But what Busquets has been is smart and sublime all through these years.
He's never someone who is all over the pitch and sometimes might not stand out. Take him out of the system though and things will crumble soon. The 33-year old is an outlet for any player running out of options on the pitch, one that makes staying in possession convenient for his team.
He has played every game of the season so far in La Liga and the Champions League for Barcelona, even scoring a crucial goal in 3-3 draw against Celta Vigo. Busquets has been a pillar for the Spanish national team and his decision making on the pitch remains as decisive as ever.
#1 Luka Modric
Real Madrid aren't one to keep deadwood for too long. They have always been quick to move aging players even if they have earned legendary status at the club. However, they seem to have realized that the standards of Luka Modric aren't one that can be easily replaced and gladly offered the 36-year old another year's stay.
When the season started, the Croatian missed a couple of games due to adductor problems and many believed this is when he becomes a rotation player. However, he has been quick to get back to full fitness and is once again enjoying himself in the Real Madrid shirt.
The metronomic midfielder has been vital for Los Blancos and is responsible for the team's quick transition from back to front. He still carries the ball with great tenacity and puts in the hard yards to help out with the press.
The Ballon d'Or winner has expressed his desire to retire at the Santiago Bernabeu. It will be interesting to see whether Los Blancos give him another extension.
