Xavi

Who is Xavi?

Xavier "Xavi" Hernández i Creus, 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 the FC Barcelona's history to play 150 international matches.

Since making his international debut in 2000, he has been capped 123 times for the Spanish national team, with whom he won the 2010 World Cup, as well as both the 2008 and the 2012 UEFA Euro. He was named Player of the Tournament by UEFA at UEFA Euro 2008. Xavi has won more trophies than any other Spanish player. Xavi has received five Ballon d'Or nominations, and finished in third place in 2009, 2010 and 2011. Xavi has been awarded the IFFHS World's Best Playmaker for 4 years: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and he was runner-up to Iniesta in 2012. Xavi has been voted into the UEFA Team of the Year 5 times: 2008, 09, 10, 11, 2012. In 2011, Xavi was runner up to Lionel Messi for the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award