Iniesta came through La Masia, the Barcelona youth academy, after an early emigration from his birthplace, and impressed from an early age.
He was an integral part of the Barcelona team that won a historic six trophies in 2009.
Iniesta played for Spain at the Under-16, Under-19 and Under-21 levels before making his international debut in 2006.
He helped Spain win Euro 2008, playing every game and being selected in the UEFA Team of the Tournament.
At Euro 2012, Iniesta steered Spain to their second consecutive continental crown, being chosen as the Best Player of the Tournament and winning 3 Man of the Match awards (including in the final against Italy).
He was runner-up to Lionel Messi for the 2010 FIFA Ballon d’Or and achieved third place in 2012.
Iniesta has been chosen in the UEFA Team of the Year four times (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012), and has been voted into the FIFA World XI on six occasions: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014.
At the age of 12, while playing for Albacete Balompi in a junior seven-a-side tournament in Albacete, he attracted the attention of scouts from many clubs around Spain. His parents knew the FC Barcelona youth team coach, Enrique Orizaola, and he persuaded them to consider sending Iniesta to the Barcelona youth academy.
Iniesta says he “cried rivers” the day he left for La Masia and struggled being separated from his parents; He captained the Barcelona Under-15 team to victory in the Nike Premier Cup of 1999, scoring the winning goal in the last minute of the final, and being named player of the tournament.
