Xavi Hernandez

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Xavi joined La Masia at age 11 and made his first-team debut against Mallorca in August 1998. For Barcelona, he played 767 official matches and scored 85 goals. With Pep Guardiola's management and the tiki-taka philosophy, Xavi was part of a midfield trio with Andrés Iniesta and Sergio Busquets that won five La Liga titles, three Copa del Rey titles, and three Champions League titles from 2008 to 2015, including two continental trebles (2008–09 and 2014–15). He was the first player in Barcelona's history to play 150 European and FIFA Club World Cup matches combined. In 2015, he left Barcelona for Al Sadd, winning six trophies before retiring in 2019. With Spain, he won the FIFA World Youth Championship in 1999 and an Olympic silver medal in 2000. He made his senior team debut in 2000 and earned 133 caps. He played a key role in Spain's 2010 FIFA World Cup win, as well as their UEFA Euro 2008 and 2012 victories. He was named Player of the Tournament at Euro 2008 and in the UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament in 2008 and 2012. With two assists in the Euro 2012 Final, he became the first player to make assists in two separate European finals. After the 2014 FIFA World Cup, he retired from international football. Xavi finished third in the 2009 FIFA World Player of the Year and FIFA Ballon d'Or, and third in the Ballon d'Or in 2010 and 2011. In 2011, he was runner-up to Messi for the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award. He received the Prince of Asturias Award in 2012 and the IFFHS World's Best Playmaker award four times from 2008 to 2011. He was named in the FIFA FIFPro World XI six times from 2008 to 2013, and in the UEFA Team of the Year five times from 2008 to 2012. In 2020, he was named in the Ballon d'Or Dream Team. After retirement, he managed Al Sadd from May 2019, winning seven trophies in less than three years. In November 2021, he became manager of Barcelona, winning the 2023 Supercopa de España and the 2022–23 La Liga title.

In Their Own Story

The humidity of Johannesburg clung to the air as the final whistle approached in 2010. Xavi stood over the ball near the halfway line, his breathing steady despite the chaos around him. He didn't rush; he simply waited for the perfect gap in the Netherlands' defense to open. With a delicate touch that seemed almost effortless, he released a pass that sliced through three defenders, finding Iniesta running onto it. It was just one moment in a match defined by control, but it encapsulated his entire career: calm calculation in the face of chaos.

Reader's Guide

Xavi is a Spanish professional football manager and former player. He is currently the head coach of the Netherlands national team. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest midfielders of all time, known for his exceptional passing and vision. He is the all-time Spanish top assist provider in the UEFA Champions League with 30 assists. He spent most of his playing career at Barcelona and is one of the few players to make over 1,000 professional career appearances.

Did You Know?

• Xavi is the all-time Spanish top assist provider in the UEFA Champions League with 30 assists.
• He was the first player in Barcelona's history to play 150 European and FIFA Club World Cup matches combined.
• Xavi became the first player to make assists in two separate European finals, doing so in the UEFA Euro 2012 Final.
• He was awarded the IFFHS World's Best Playmaker award four consecutive times from 2008 to 2011.