Andres Iniesta Spanish football player Date of Birth: 11.05.1984 Country: Spain

Biography of Andres Iniesta
Andres Iniesta, a Spanish football player, is a central attacking midfielder who plays for Barcelona and the Spanish national team.

Early Career
Iniesta was scouted by Barcelona at the age of twelve while playing for the local club, Albacete. He soon moved to Barcelona and began his rise to the first team.

Debut and Success at Barcelona
Iniesta made his debut for Barcelona's first team on October 29, 2002, in a Champions League match against Brugge. In the 2003/04 season, he played 11 matches and scored 1 goal in the Spanish league, often replacing the club's star player, Ronaldinho. Barcelona finished second in the league that season. In the 2004/05 season, Iniesta secured a place in the starting lineup, playing in 37 out of 38 league games, more than any other Barcelona player. As an attacking midfielder, Iniesta provided many assists to the club's main strikers, Samuel Eto'o and Ronaldinho, and scored only two goals himself. Despite the arrival of Deco in the team in the summer of 2005, Iniesta continued to feature in the starting lineup, and in the absence of the injured Xavi, he took on the role of the team's main playmaker. Today, Iniesta is one of the most promising midfielders in Europe, and his call-up to the Spanish national team for the 2006 World Cup in Germany did not come as a surprise to anyone.

International Career
Iniesta's international appearances began in 2001 when he helped Spain win the Under-16 European Championship. The following year, he participated in the Under-19 European Championship. In 2003, he was part of the Spanish team that reached the Under-20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates and was included in the tournament's symbolic team. Iniesta has captained the Spanish Under-21 national team several times. He made his debut for the senior national team on May 15, 2006, in a friendly match against Russia, coming on as a substitute in the halftime. In the 2006 World Cup in Germany, he played one match against Saudi Arabia. He scored his first goal for the national team on February 7, 2007, in a friendly match against England.

Achievements
Iniesta has achieved numerous honors throughout his career, including winning the UEFA Champions League in 2005/06, being the champion of Spain in 2004/05 and 2005/06, and winning the Spanish Super Cup in 2005/06 and 2006/07. He has also represented Spain in international tournaments, including the 2006 World Cup.