New Delhi: Andres Iniesta, one of Barcelona’s greatest-ever players, made a surprising choice when asked to name his five best footballers in history. Despite playing alongside Lionel Messi for years and winning multiple trophies together, the Spaniard did not include the Argentine superstar in his list.
The 40-year-old, who recently retired after a long career at Barcelona, Vissel Kobe and Emirates Club, was asked by TikToker ofmanny to name his five all-time best players. Instead of picking Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, Iniesta chose Michael Laudrup, Pep Guardiola, Xavi, David Silva and Santi Cazorla.
Andres Iniesta’s surprising picks for the five greatest players
Andres Iniesta (R) of Barcelona celebrates with his teammate Lionel Messi (L) (Photo by Burak Akbulut/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
Iniesta has spoken highly of Laudrup in the past, calling him his childhood idol. “Michael Laudrup is my idol from childhood. His technique and his beautiful play style, the way he attacked as a midfielder. I’ve been trying to be like him since I was a kid,” Iniesta said. Guardiola was also a natural pick, as Iniesta admired him growing up and later played under him at Barcelona.
Xavi, another key name on the list, was Iniesta’s midfield partner for years. He described Xavi as his “ideal player” due to his vision, passing and leadership. The other two choices, David Silva and Santi Cazorla, were midfielders who excelled in Spain’s golden generation, with Iniesta appreciating their technical skills and playmaking ability.
Iniesta’s decision to leave out Messi is unexpected given their years of success at Barcelona. The two formed part of one of the greatest teams in history, winning nine La Liga titles and four Champions League trophies together. However, Iniesta’s list seems more focused on midfielders he admired rather than the best overall players.
Meanwhile, David Silva had a different take, naming Messi in his own five best players list alongside Laudrup, Iniesta, Cristiano Ronaldo and Sergio Aguero. Others, like Tim Cahill, picked more traditional names such as Pele, Diego Maradona, Messi, Ronaldo and Ronaldo Nazario.
Iniesta’s choices reflect his admiration for midfielders who controlled games with intelligence and technique rather than pure goal-scoring ability. But leaving out Messi, often considered the best player ever, still comes as a surprise.
Andres Iniesta surprised many by leaving out Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo when naming his five greatest footballers. Instead, he picked Michael Laudrup, Pep Guardiola, Xavi, David Silva, and Santi Cazorla. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
