Welcome to OneFootball’s definitive ranking of the 25 greatest players of the last 25 years.
Over the course of 25 days, we will be counting down our top 25 men’s footballers of the 21st century so far, before revealing the winner on 1st January 2025.
Check out the list so far here
Today, our countdown continues with…
4th: Andrés Iniesta (687 points)
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Nationality: Spanish (131 caps, 13 goals)
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Main clubs: Barcelona
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Major trophies won: LaLiga (x9), Champions League (x4), UEFA Super Cup (x2), Club World Cup (x3), World Cup (x1), European Championship (x2)
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Major individual awards: FIFPRO World XI (x9), European Championship Player of the Tournament (x1), UEFA Team of the Year (x6), Golden Foot (x1)
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Highest ranking among voters: 3rd (two votes)
Andrés Iniesta had a legendary football career, spending the majority of it at Barcelona, where he won numerous La Liga, Champions League and Copa del Rey titles.
Renowned for his dribbling, vision, and composure under pressure, Iniesta scored the decisive goal in the 2010 World Cup final, securing Spain’s first ever world title.
After leaving Barcelona in 2018, he continued his career in Japan with Vissel Kobe, where he helped lead the team to domestic success before retiring.
Fun fact
📸 Jamie McDonald – 2010 Getty Images
Away from the field, Iniesta (and his family) owns a successful winery, Bodega Iniesta, in his hometown of Fuentealbilla. The winery not only contributes to the local economy but is also a popular tourist destination.
Watch him in action
How we voted
Thirty-eight members of OneFootball’s global editorial team ranked their top 25 players of the 21st century so far. Players ranked at #1 earned 25 points, second place earned 24 points, and so on. In the event of a tie, the player with the highest individual ranking was placed higher on the list.
📸 David Ramos – 2018 Getty Images
