Xavi

50 Top Soccer Player their trade today, based on a combination of current form, potential and overall ability.  Ranking  determined by a panel of contributors to ESPN's soccer.

Xavi Hernández               Rank Player 5

Profile
Birth name                 Xavier Hernández i Creus
Birth date                  January 25, 1980
Birth place                 Terrassa, Spain
Height                       1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Playing position          Midfielder
National Team           Spain
Current club              Barcelona
Number                     6


Biography
Xavi Hernández or simply Xavi is a Spanish footballer who plays as a central midfielder for La Liga club FC Barcelona, where he has spent his entire 15-year career. Xavi came through La Masia, the Barcelona youth academy, at the age of 11. He made his first-team debut in 18 August 1998. Since then he has played 670 matches, scored 72 goals and made more than 160 assists for above 50 players. He was an integral part of the sextuple-winning Barcelona side in 2009, the only time which a club has achieved six titles in a year. He has been capped 107 times for the Spanish national team, with whom he won UEFA Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup. He was named Player of the Tournament by UEFA at UEFA Euro 2008. Xavi played for Spain at the young levels, before making his international debut in 2000. He received five Ballon d'Or nominations, and finished on third place in 2009, 2010 and 2011 (in all these years, his colleague, Lionel Messi was the winner). He won the World Soccer Player of the Year in 2010, especially for his performance with Spain national team at the World Cup 2010

Scouting thumbnail
Intelligent playmaker who combines precise passes and artistic vision in both the final third and from a deep lying position. The pulse of the Spanish team. Superb ability to keep the ball.

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