Legendary former Spain and Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta confirmed his retirement from football today, bringing the curtain down on an iconic and illustrious career which puts him amongst the best to have ever played the game in his position.
The 40-year-old's trophy cabinet glitters with virtually every piece of silverware there was to win, from the World Cup to the Emperor's Cup, while he was also bestowed with a plethora of individual awards to mark his status as one of the key cogs of both Barcelona and Spain's golden eras.
It was with those two teams that the vast majority of his trophies came, including nine La Liga titles, four Champions Leagues and two European Championships on top of the 2010 World Cup, which saw him catapulted to mythical status in Spain.
Long-time teammate Lionel Messi and former Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo effectively put paid to Iniesta's chances of winning the Ballon d'Or during a career well worthy of the highest individual honour in the game, but his place among the modern-day legends of the sport is secure nonetheless.
Having spent 22 years on the books at Barca, Iniesta has seen out his latter playing days with Vissel Kobe in Japan and UAE Pro League side Emirates, adding more than 150 appearances to his career tally in the process before officially hanging up his boots.
A tally of 101 career goals in 962 senior outings for club and country is testament to the fact that Iniesta was not a great goalscorer, but a fair share of those were great goals.
Here, to mark the retirement of a true football legend, Sports Mole counts down the 10 best goals of Andres Iniesta's incredible career.
10. Racing de Santander 0-3 BARCELONA (La Liga | August 29, 2010)
Just 32 minutes into the 2010-11 season, and fresh from scoring the winning goal for Spain in that summer's World Cup final, Iniesta got the new campaign off to a flying start in style.
Barcelona were already one goal to the good against Racing when the ball dropped to him after a punch clear from the goalkeeper, and he did not think twice before lifting a first-time volleyed lob into the unguarded net.
It was a touch of class from the freshly-crowned world champion, who made a difficult technique and skill look easy from all of 35 yards.
9. BARCELONA 4-1 Malaga (La Liga | June 1, 2013)
Barcelona had already long since won the title when Malaga visited Camp Nou on the final day of the 2012-13 season, but Iniesta gave them one last thing to cheer.
The champions led 3-0 when he picked the ball up and was afforded far too much room within shooting range, allowing him to set himself and curl a fine effort into the far corner.
Malaga pulled a goal back, but Barcelona cruised to another victory en route to finishing 15 points clear of arch-rivals Real Madrid.
8. Levante 0-4 BARCELONA (La Liga | November 25, 2012)
Another Iniesta stunner in another big win for Barcelona, capping one of the playmaker's best-ever performances for the club.
The Spaniard assisted three goals in addition to this thumping strike of his own, dribbling to the edge of the area before crashing a bullet of a strike in off the underside of the crossbar.
Barcelona won the match 4-0, helping them on their way to that huge 2012-13 title triumph over Los Blancos.
7. BARCELONA 7-0 Osasuna (La Liga | March 16, 2014)
Another unstoppable long-range strike, but what made this one so impressive was that it came with Iniesta's supposed weaker left foot.
His piledriver left the keeper with no chance and was so cleanly struck that it is difficult to understand how Iniesta only score three goals that season.
Two assists followed later in the game as Barcelona obliterated Osasuna 7-0, with Iniesta's goal the pick of the bunch.
6. BARCELONA 4-0 Sevilla (La Liga | April 22, 2009)
Considering the ease with which Iniesta seemed to pick out the top corner from range, it is surprising that he did not score more goals throughout his career.
This one saw the midfielder collect the ball just inside Sevilla's half before advancing to within shooting range and nonchalantly stroking a 30-yard strike past the keeper just three minutes into the match.
In a familiar theme, this goal came in a big win for Barca as they ran out 4-0 victors during a 2008-09 campaign which ended with another La Liga crown.
5. Real Madrid 0-4 BARCELONA (La Liga | November 21, 2015)
Goals against Real Madrid always matter more for Barcelona players, particularly stalwarts like Iniesta and particularly when they come in Madrid's own backyard.
This came in one of the more memorable Barca performances of Iniesta's career, netting the third as they beat Madrid 4-0 in a Clasico at the Bernabeu.
Such dominance was encapsulated by this goal as the visitors strung together a slick team move which ended with Neymar flicking the ball back into the path of Iniesta, who proceeded to smash his finish into the top corner.
4. England vs. SPAIN (International friendly | February 7, 2007)
Iniesta's first international goal was arguably the most spectacular of the 13 he scored in 131 appearances for Spain, coming against England in 2007.
The midfielder, who was still in the fledgling stages of his international career then, collected the ball from the left before taking a touch and arrowing a half-volley into the top corner.
It proved to be the only goal of the friendly as Spain continued their progress en route to eventually winning their first ever major international trophy the following year.
3. BARCELONA 7-0 Celtic (Champions League | September 13, 2016)
The first Champions League entry on the list is a truly special first-time volley from Neymar's cross, which Iniesta could not have struck any sweeter.
As was so often the case, it was an Iniesta screamer which came in a huge win for Barcelona as the volley made it 4-0 in an eventual 7-0 triumph.
It proved to be the only goal the Spaniard scored in that 2016-17 campaign, but it remains one of the most memorable of his entire career.
2. Netherlands 0-1 SPAIN (World Cup final | July 11, 2010)
Undoubtedly the most important goal of Iniesta's career, and the one which handed Spain their first and so far only World Cup crown after years of underachieving.
Spain and Netherlands had been deadlocked for almost 116 minutes when Iniesta picked up Cesc Fabregas's pass in the area and proceeded to fire it home with only four minutes of extra time remaining.
As a goal taken in isolation there are better than this on the list, but when it comes to importance there are none in the history of Spanish football which come close.
1. Chelsea 1-1 BARCELONA (Champions League | May 6, 2009)
A goal which may rank second in terms of importance and iconic status to that strike against Netherlands, but when you add in the quality of his famous screamer against Chelsea it is worthy of top spot in this particular list.
It looked as though Barcelona were heading out of the Champions League to the previous year's runners-up, who were on course to make it a Manchester United vs. Chelsea final for the second successive season.
The Spanish giants went into stoppage time a man down and a goal down, but a hugely controversial refereeing performance had kept them in the game and ensured that they only needed one to snatch a place in the final from under Chelsea's noses.
Step forward Iniesta, who swung his leg at a first-time effort from Lionel Messi's pass, hitting it with the outside of his boot and sending it swerving past Petr Cech into the top corner, sparking wild scenes of celebration from the visitors, who went on to lift the trophy.
Barney Corkhill
