Xavi

Xavier Hernandez Creus, popularly known as Xavi, is a Spain international footballer currently featuring for the Spanish and European champions FC Barcelona. Xavi is regarded as one of the best midfielders in the world and with his neat passing, great anchoring of the midfield and sharp shooting, is often compared to the Barcelona legend Pep Guardiola.

Xavi joined Barcelona when he was just 11 years of age and is a born Catalan. He progressed through the youth ranks at the Catalan club and made his debut for the senior side on August 18, 1998 in the Spanish Super Cup match against Real Mallorca. He scored in that match and was a consistent performer for Barcelona in the 1998-99 campaign as Barcelona won La Liga that year.

Since 2004-05, Xavi has been a vice-captain of Barcelona. He also won La Liga on two others occasions, in 2005 and 2006, and won the UEFA Champions League with Barcelona in 2006. He won the competition again in 2009 and 2011 and La Liga in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2013.

Xavi is also one of the first names in the Spanish national team sheet. He won his first Spanish cap against the Netherlands in 2000 and has been a regular Spanish international since. He won Euro 2008, 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012.