# **Xavi Hernández: The Maestro of Midfield - Career, Team, and Top 5 Legendary Moments**
## **Introduction**
Xavi Hernández is widely recognized as one of the finest midfielders in football history. A graduate of FC Barcelona’s legendary La Masia program, Xavi embodied the tiki-taka style of play, directing games with his vision, passing precision, and intellect. His impact extended beyond club football, as he was pivotal in Spain’s golden age, winning two European Championships (2008, 2012) and the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
This blog article analyzes Xavi’s brilliant career, the clubs he played for, and his five most iconic moments that solidified his status as a footballing genius.
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## **Xavi’s Career and Teams**
### **1. FC Barcelona (1998–2015)**
Xavi had 17 magnificent years with Barcelona, making **767 appearances** (the second-highest in club history) and collecting **25 major trophies**, including:
- **8 La Liga titles** - **4 UEFA Champions League titles** - **3 FIFA Club World Cups** - **6 Copa del Rey trophies**
Under Pep Guardiola, Xavi became the pulse of Barça’s midfield alongside Andrés Iniesta and Sergio Busquets, making one of the most powerful trios in football history.
### **2. Al Sadd SC (2015–2019)**
After leaving Barça, Xavi joined Qatari club **Al Sadd SC**, where he played **91 matches**, scored **22 goals**, and won **4 trophies**, including the Qatar Stars League (2018–19).
### **3. Spain National Team (2000–2014)** Xavi gained **133 caps** for Spain, with **13 goals** and **27 assists**. He was the midfield maestro in Spain’s historic triple (Euro 2008, World Cup 2010, Euro 2012).
### **Current Role: FC Barcelona Manager (2021–Present)**
After retiring, Xavi went into coaching, guiding Al Sadd before returning to Barcelona as manager in 2021. He steered the team to a **La Liga title in 2022–23**, reviving optimism after a tumultuous time.
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## **Top 5 Most Iconic Moments of Xavi Hernández**
### **1. The 2009 UEFA Champions League Final Masterclass (Barcelona 2-0 Manchester United)** ** Date:** May 27, 2009 **Location:** Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Xavi made one of the best midfield performances in a Champions League final. His exquisite passing (96% accuracy) destroyed Manchester United’s defense.
- **Key Moment:** Xavi’s **delicate lobbed pass** to Lionel Messi, who headed in the second goal, securing Barça’s triumph.
- **Legacy:** This triumph completed Barça’s historic **treble** (La Liga, Copa del Rey, UCL).
### **2. 2010 World Cup Final – The Assist That Won Spain the Title (Spain 1-0 Netherlands)** **Date:** July 11, 2010 **Location:** Soccer City, Johannesburg
In a tough, physical final, Xavi controlled the tempo with **127 passes (91% accuracy)**.
- **Key Moment:** His **perfect through-ball** to Andrés Iniesta in extra time resulted to the **116th-minute winner**, clinching Spain’s first World Cup.
- **Legacy:** Xavi was chosen in the **World Cup All-Star Team** and earned the **Silver Ball** (second-best player).
### **3. 2011 UEFA Champions League Final – Dominating Manchester United Again (Barcelona 3-1 Manchester United)** ** Date:** May 28, 2011 **Location:** Wembley Stadium, London
Xavi’s midfield supremacy was on full show as Barça dominated United with **63% possession**.
- **Key Moment:** His **pre-assist** (a disguised ball to Messi) led to David Villa’s amazing goal.
- **Legacy:** This triumph reaffirmed Barça as the **best team of the era** and Xavi as the **ultimate playmaker**.
### **4. 2012 Euro Championship – Spain’s Historic 4-0 Win Over Italy** ** Date:** July 1, 2012 ** Location:** Olympic Stadium, Kyiv
Xavi’s **88 passes (94% accuracy)** influenced the game as Spain became the first team to win **three successive major tournaments**.
- **Key Moment:** His **quick one-two with Iniesta** split Italy’s defense, resulting to Spain’s second goal.
- **Legacy:** Xavi was named in the **Team of the Tournament**, solidifying Spain’s golden generation.
### **5. Final Camp Nou Match – Emotional Farewell (Barcelona 2-2 Deportivo La Coruña)** **Date:** May 23, 2015 ** Location:** Camp Nou, Barcelona
After 767 games, Xavi played his farewell match at Camp Nou, earning a **standing ovation** from 98,000 supporters.
- **Key Moment:** His **final assist** for Lionel Messi’s goal, a poignant finish to their storied association.
- **Legacy:** Xavi departed as **Barça’s most decorated player** (25 trophies) and a living legend.
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## **Conclusion**
Xavi Hernández wasn’t simply a footballer—he was an artist who painted the game with his passes. His knowledge, leadership, and humility made him a role model for future generations. Whether at Barcelona, Spain, or Al Sadd, Xavi’s impact remains unrivaled.
Now, as Barcelona’s manager, he seeks to recapture the magic he once produced on the pitch. One thing is certain: **football will never forget Xavi Hernández.**