UEFA Champions League's 5 greatest footballers in last 25 years

#4 Xavi

Xavi mastered the concept of space and time in football, and remains one of the greatest central midfielders of all time. He is also one of the most successful footballers of all time and has managed to win all the major titles. He is also one of the finest Champions League footballers of all time, and won 4 titles in his distinguished career.

Xavi played for Barcelona for almost two decades, and won his first Champions League title in 2005-06. He then became an intrinsic part of Pep Guardiola’s all-conquering team and won 2 Champions League titles in 3 years from 2009 to 2011. He signed off by winning his 4th and last Champions League title with Barca in 2015. He played in a whopping 767 matches for Barca and scored 85 goals.

Xavi is one of the finest players when it comes to passing, that the game has ever seen. He also acted as the engine of the dominantCatalan side of 2000s and 2010s. He is still active as a player, and would go down as one of the best in the history of the game.

About the author

Subhadeep, an adept tennis journalist at Sportskeeda, has been writing about the sport for seven years. He is known for his exclusive match reviews and opinion pieces, utilizing his MBA degree to tackle them effectively with his problem-solving abilities.

Subhadeep lives and breathes tennis. He watches matches regularly and engages in social media platforms to stay on top of the latest happenings. As a writer, he brings the fan's perspective to his pieces, ensuring his readers enjoy an exceptional experience every time.

Growing up, he idolized Boris Becker, but he now firmly believes Novak Djokovic stands alone as the 'Greatest of all Time', especially considering the 24-time Grand Slam champion's incredible stats. One thing that still puzzles Subhadeep, however, is how Becker's Wimbledon tally might have reached five if not for Pete Sampras.

Speaking of the All England Club, the British Major holds a special place in his heart as he admires its blend of tradition and grass-court excellence. When not working for Sportskeeda, Subhadeep delves into the other "love of his life": football, and enjoys contributing his insights to different websites dedicated to the sport.

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Edited by Shaurya Vineet