Iniesta's Most Beautiful Goal: The Moment That Defined a Legend

Iniesta's Most Beautiful Goal: A Career's Crown Jewel

Andrés Iniesta, the legendary former Barcelona and Spain star, says there is one goal in his career he cherishes above all and calls the loveliest, among the many iconic strikes he has scored.

In an exclusive interview with The Athletic, he said: "I miss the game. Football isn’t just 90 minutes on the pitch; it demands a lot of preparation, and in the end, that’s what wears you down."

Although Iniesta did not score many goals — 57 in 674 appearances for Barcelona and 13 in 131 for Spain — every goal he scored was iconic, but he highlights his strike against Belgium in World Cup qualifiers 2010 as the prettiest of his career: "For me, it was one of the prettiest goals I scored. It was wonderful in every metric—the move and the space available. I fooled the goalkeeper and scored; it had beauty in every aspect."

Iniesta also recalls his goal against Chelsea in the 2009 UEFA Champions League: "Everything looked lost. I scored in the 93rd minute to reach the final with momentum. The goal became known as 'El Iniestazo'. It was a crazy moment."

And about his goal in the 2010 World Cup final in Johannesburg, he said: "It was different from the Chelsea goal. We went into extra time and had to score before penalties. I felt strong and wanted to do everything to avoid the penalties." He celebrated with a message on his shirt: "Dani Jarque, always with us," referring to a friend who died suddenly in 2009.

This autumn also marks the first anniversary of Iniesta’s new life, and Barcelona seems to honor him on European nights this season, as the team played a dramatic 3-3 draw with Club Brugge — the same stadium that saw his Barcelona debut in 2002 — and today the club returns to Stamford Bridge, Chelsea’s home, where he scored his most famous goal that propelled Barcelona to the 2009 final, a landmark in the club’s history.

Iniesta’s name is often linked to Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona era alongside Xavi and Sergio Busquets.

He won every possible trophy at domestic and international level, including nine La Liga titles, six Copa del Reys, four Champions League titles, and the 2010 World Cup, as well as two European Championships with Spain.

In 2010, he scored the decisive goal in the World Cup final against the Netherlands, and then joined the Ballon d’Or podium alongside Messi and Xavi.

Iniesta was not only known for scoring goals but for his dribbling and passing, the skill known as "las croquetas"—a move as croquette-like as when it sizzles in a pan.

He said: "Messi and Michael Laudrup used to perform it, but I became more associated with it in modern football. I made complicated things look easy."

Before joining Barcelona, Iniesta played as a defensive midfielder, and he kept that role when he joined La Masia, but coach Frank Rijkaard moved him to the left wing due to his physical attributes, before Guardiola elevated him to the first team in 2008 to form an unparalleled midfield with Xavi and Busquets.

About the understanding with Xavi, Iniesta said: "Living with another person for a long time makes you know him better, his habits and movements and what he feels comfortable with and what not. Everything is about intelligence, whether mental or visual. Having the best players around you makes you improve constantly."

On the physical challenges for shorter players, he added: "Intelligence is more important than height. You must know your strengths and weaknesses, and how to deal with physically stronger opponents. Football relies on intelligence in knowing what to do and how to do it."

And Iniesta concluded: "I loved football. Every moment in it was a wonderful experience, from the small trainings to the historic goals."

From La Masia to World Cup Glory

The journey traces back to the early days at La Masia, where a 12-year-old Iniesta left his hometown to pursue a dream far from home. The move shaped not only his career but his character, a resilience that carried him through immense pressures and moments of doubt.

The autumn of his life on the field is filled with memories of battles and triumphs, and although he stepped away from playing, his passion for the game remains unwavering. The legend endures in stories of patience, space, and intelligent movement—the essence of his style that many players still try to imitate.

Punchline #1: If football were a sniper's lane, Iniesta would shoot through a crowd with a croqueta—delicate, precise, and almost unfair to defend against.

Punchline #2: He could thread a pass through the eye of a needle and still make the crowd ask for a replay, then credit it as “tactical genius.”