XAVI HERNANDEZ
Xavier "Xavi" Hernández i Creus (born 25 January 1980), is a Spanish footballer who plays as a central midfielder for FC Barcelona and the Spanish national football team.
Xavi came through La Masia, the Barcelona youth academy, at the age of 11. He made his first-team debut against RCD Mallorca on 18 August 1998. Since then he has played 673 matches, scored 80 goals and made more than 180 assists for over 50 players. Xavi is the first player in FC Barcelona's history to play 150 international matches.He is considered to be one of the best midfielders of all time, and the best playmaker of his generation.
Xavi won the U-20 World Cup for Spain in 1999, and the Olympic Silver Medal at the 2000 Olympics. Since making his senior team debut in 2000, he has been capped 128 times for the Spanish national team, and has been seen as an influential figure in the team's tremendous success. He played a key role in Spain's victory at the 2010 World Cup, as well as both Euro 2008 and Euro 2012. He was named Player of the Tournament by UEFAat Euro 2008. Xavi was selected in the 2010 World Cup All-star Team, and the UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament in 2008 as well as 2012. Playing for Barcelona, Xavi won the Man of the Match award in the Champions League Final in 2009.
Xavi has won more trophies (25) than any other Spanish player in history. He won theWorld Soccer Player of the Year award in 2010. Xavi has received five Ballon d'Or nominations, and finished in third place in 2009, 2010 and 2011. In 2011, he was runner up to Messi for the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award. He has been awarded the IFFHSWorld's Best Playmaker award for 4 years: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011. Xavi has been voted into both the FIFA World XI and the UEFA Team of the Year on 5 occasions each: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. At Euro 2012, with his 2 assists in the Final, Xavi became the first player to register assists in 2 separate Euro finals, having set up the lone goal in theFinal 4 years ago. He was awarded the Prince of Asturias Award for Sports in 2012.
Xavi came through La Masia, the Barcelona youth academy, at the age of 11. He made his first-team debut against RCD Mallorca on 18 August 1998. Since then he has played 673 matches, scored 80 goals and made more than 180 assists for over 50 players. Xavi is the first player in FC Barcelona's history to play 150 international matches.He is considered to be one of the best midfielders of all time, and the best playmaker of his generation.
Xavi won the U-20 World Cup for Spain in 1999, and the Olympic Silver Medal at the 2000 Olympics. Since making his senior team debut in 2000, he has been capped 128 times for the Spanish national team, and has been seen as an influential figure in the team's tremendous success. He played a key role in Spain's victory at the 2010 World Cup, as well as both Euro 2008 and Euro 2012. He was named Player of the Tournament by UEFAat Euro 2008. Xavi was selected in the 2010 World Cup All-star Team, and the UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament in 2008 as well as 2012. Playing for Barcelona, Xavi won the Man of the Match award in the Champions League Final in 2009.
Xavi has won more trophies (25) than any other Spanish player in history. He won theWorld Soccer Player of the Year award in 2010. Xavi has received five Ballon d'Or nominations, and finished in third place in 2009, 2010 and 2011. In 2011, he was runner up to Messi for the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award. He has been awarded the IFFHSWorld's Best Playmaker award for 4 years: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011. Xavi has been voted into both the FIFA World XI and the UEFA Team of the Year on 5 occasions each: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. At Euro 2012, with his 2 assists in the Final, Xavi became the first player to register assists in 2 separate Euro finals, having set up the lone goal in theFinal 4 years ago. He was awarded the Prince of Asturias Award for Sports in 2012.
Honours
Barcelona
Barcelona
- La Liga: 1998–99, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2012–13
- Copa del Rey: 2008–09, 2011–12; Runner-up 2010–11
- Supercopa de España: 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013; Runner-up 2012
- UEFA Champions League: 2005–06, 2008–09, 2010–11
- UEFA Super Cup: 2009, 2011; Runner-up 2006
- FIFA Club World Cup: 2009, 2011; Runner-up 2006
- FIFA World Cup: 2010
- UEFA European Football Championship: 2008, 2012
- Summer Olympics Silver medal: 2000
- FIFA World Youth Championship: 1999
- World Soccer Player of the Year: 2010
- Euro 2008 Player of the Tournament: 2008
- UEFA Best Player in Europe Award Second place: 2011
- FIFA Ballon d'Or Third place: 2010, 2011
- Ballon d'Or Third place: 2009
- FIFA World Player of the Year Third place: 2009
- Onze de Bronze: 2011
- UEFA Champions League Final Man of the Match: 2009
- UEFA Club Midfielder of the Year: 2008–09
- IFFHS World's Best Playmaker: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
- La Liga Breakthrough Player of the Year: 1999
- La Liga Spanish Player of the Year: 2005
- La Liga Player of the Year: 2nd place 2010, 3rd place 2011
- La Liga Midfielder of the Year: 2009, 2011. No winner in 2010.
- FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 2010
- Euro Team of the Tournament: 2008, 2012
- FIFA/FIFPro World XI: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
- UEFA Team of the Year: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
- ESM Team of the Year: 2008–09, 2010–11, 2011–12
- FIFA Club World Cup Silver Ball: 2011
- FIFA Club World Cup Bronze Ball: 2009