The Goal.com 50: Andres Iniesta (13)

50 - Ashley Young - Aston Villa, Premier League - Score: 1109
49 - Javier Zanetti - Internazionale, Serie A - Score: 1104
48 - Daniel Guiza - Fenerbahçe, Super Lig - Score: 1089
47 - Juninho Pernambucano - Olympique Lyonnais, Ligue 1 - Score: 1083
46 - Juan Román Riquelme - Boca Juniors, Argentine Apertura - Score: 1077
45 - Luca Toni - FC Bayern, Bundesliga - Score: 1064
44 - David Silva - Valencia, Primera Division - Score: 1060
42 (T) - Thierry Henry - Barcelona, Primera Division - Score: 1040
42 (T) - Daniel Alves - Sevilla, Primera Division / Barcelona, Primera Division - Score: 1040
41 - Antonio Cassano - Sampdoria, Serie A - Score: 1028
40 - Klaas-Jan Huntelaar - Ajax Amsterdam, Eredivisie / Real Madrid, Primera Division - Score: 1027
39 - Ricardo Carvalho - Chelsea, Premier Division - Score: 1025
38 - Samuel Eto'o - Barcelona, Primera Division - Score: 1017
37 - Philipp Lahm - FC Bayern, Bundesliga - Score: 1009
36 - Javier Mascherano - Liverpool, Premier League - Score: 1008
35 - Julio Cesar - Internazionale, Serie A - Score 1000
34 - Robinho - Real Madrid, Primera Division / Manchester City, Premier League - Score: 970
33 - Diego - Werder Bremen, Bundesliga - Score: 955
32 - Carles Puyol - FC Barcelona, La Primera División - Score: 915
31 - Wesley Sneijder - Real Madrid, Primera Division - Score: 887
30 - Daniele De Rossi - Roma, Serie A - Score: 878
29 - Esteban Cambiasso - Internazionale, Serie A - Score: 877
28 - Giorgio Chiellini - Juventus, Serie A - Score 870
27 – Emmanuel Adebayor – Arsenal, Premier League – Score 862
26 - Nemanja Vidic - Manchester United, Premier League - Score: 829
25 - Ruud Van Nistelrooy - Real Madrid, Primera Division- Score: 827
24 - Sergio Ramos - Real Madrid, Primera Division - Score: 733
23 - Maicon Douglas Sisenando - Internazionale, Serie A - Score: 729
22 - Alessandro Del Piero - Juventus, Serie A - Score: 712
21 - John Terry - Chelsea, Premier League - Score: 705
20 - Frank Lampard - Chelsea, Premier League - Score: 668
19 - Marcos Senna - Villarreal, Primera Division - Score: 636
18 - Rio Ferdinand - Manchester United, Premier League - Score: 610
17 - Gianluigi Buffon - Juventus, Serie A - Score: 589
16 - Kaka - AC Milan, Serie A - Score: 587
15 - Wayne Rooney - Manchester United, Premier League - Score: 586
14 - Karim Benzema - Lyon, Ligue 1 - Score: 559

13 - Andres Iniesta - Barcelona, Primera Division - Score: 538

The fifth Barcelona player in the list and the sixth Spaniard, Andres Iniesta weighs in at an impressive thirteenth in our list of 2008's top stars.

The 24-year-old may not have lifted any silverware with his club last year, but his dependable performances for the Blaugrana, coupled with his Euro-conquering showings with Spain, see him comfortably in the top 20.

Mr. Versatility

Indeed, one may express surprise that a Barcelona side that so clearly misfired for so much of last season has produced a player so high up the list, but Iniesta deserves his place due to consistency and versatility.

At a time when many around him were off form and failing to impress, Iniesta was not only fulfilling his own role, but even some alien ones. Over the course of the 2007-08 campaign - particularly in 2008 itself - this left-sided midfielder saw him moved into forward positions, and even as a right-winger on occasion.

What is key here is not just that he continued to rack up the assists for an ailing side, but that he took to each new role with gusto and grace. Granted, in his days as a youth player he was no stranger to being shoved from pillar to post, but for a prominent first-teamer to do so without complaint was just what Barcelona needed in one of their darkest hours.

In this sense, it's not surprising that he was tied down by the Blaugrana at his earliest convenience. As early as January he put pen to paper on a new deal: he'll be with the club until 2014. Oh - and he was chosen by Goal.com as Barcelona's player of the season.

And, considering his age - and what was to come in summer - it looks like he'll be doing the same for Spain.

National Hero

For a player not capped until 2006, it is incredible just how quickly Iniesta has become part of the furniture for the national team.

Iniesta was an integral player during Spain's wayward qualification campaign for Euro 2008 - one that, starting terribly, only saw them warm up right at the end - and thus it was no surprise that he was rewarded with a starting berth at Euro 2008.

He repaid Luis Aragones' faith in spades, adapting to a right midfield role with ease during the opener against Russia, and although throughout the group stage he was to make his way to the subs' bench around the hour mark, he was integral in getting games killed off early.

Then came the semi-final against Russia, during which he set up the opening goal, after which the floodgates opened. The pattern was clear by this time, and, naturally, he saved the best for last with a barnstorming display in the final.

Looking Ahead With Caution

In the midst of all these achievements, Iniesta kept something of a modest demeanour. In an age of superstars, his is an unassuming attitude, and one that has endeared him to many even outside Barcelona and Spain.

It is a dreadful cliche, but Andres truly does do his talking on the pitch. So long as this continues, both club and country have a player who offers consistency, dynamicism, invention, and pedigree.

That said, the latter part of 2008 was riven by injury, which is becoming of increasing concern. He missed just seven league games between 2004-05 and 2006-07; in the year of 2008 alone he's missed more than that. Still, he's back in action now - and he returned for 2009 with a "debut" goal, no less - meaning that Iniesta will now be aiming to repeat probably his best year yet this time around.

Team Prizes

European Championship (Euro 2008)

Personal Accolades

Euro 2008 Team of the Tournament member

Ewan Macdonald, Goal.com



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