I Am Scouted by Real Madrid

Chapter 678 - 91: FIFA Ballon d’Or Announcement (Part 2)

Before coming to Barcelona, Iniesta played for the Alaves youth team.He was discovered by a Barcelona scout during a youth football championship, marking the beginning of his football career at Barcelona.

After spending several years at La Masia, Iniesta quickly advanced and in the 2000-2001 season, he was promoted from the Barcelona Youth Team to the Barcelona second team, soon becoming a key player under coach Gonsalvo.

In October 2002, Iniesta made his first appearance for Barcelona’s first team, helping the team defeat Bruges in the Champions League.

After being promoted to the first team, Iniesta secured his position through his own hard work.

In the 2004-2005 season, Barcelona won the La Liga championship, with Iniesta contributing significantly.

That season, he was one of coach Rijkaard’s most frequently used players, appearing in 35 out of the 38 league matches.

In the following season, Iniesta established himself as a mainstay of the team.

With teammate Xavi injured, Iniesta took on the central midfield responsibility, making significant contributions in La Liga and the Champions League for Barcelona.

That season, he played in 33 La Liga games and 11 Champions League matches for Barcelona.

In the 2006-2007 season, Iniesta continued as a pivotal player, participating in 37 out of 38 league matches, scoring 6 goals, setting a personal single-season high record.

In the 2007-2008 season, wearing the number 8 jersey, Iniesta continued his impressive form, but unfortunately missed several games towards the end due to a knee injury.

If Iniesta had not yet peaked before, the 2008-2009 season marked his complete breakthrough, where he dazzled fans worldwide with his sophisticated foot skills both in midfield and as a winger.

Compared to before, Iniesta’s attacking power and efficiency were stronger that season.

In the knockout stages of the Champions League, it was his last-minute goal that enabled Barcelona to advance to the final held in Rome.

In the 2009-2010 season, plagued by injuries, Iniesta missed many matches, participating in a total of 29 La Liga games, 9 Champions League matches, and 3 King’s Cup matches throughout the season.

Meanwhile, Iniesta gradually became a key player for the Spain National Team.

He represented Spain in the 2006 and 2010 World Cups, as well as the 2008 European Cup, helping Spain win the 2008 European Cup championship as a primary player.

Undoubtedly, July 11, 2010 will be unforgettable for Iniesta. On that day, he scored the decisive goal for Spain during the extra time of the World Cup final, helping Spain claim the title and achieving a "Grand Slam" for himself.

At the start of the season, Xavi was more favored, mainly because of Iniesta’s numerous absences during the 09-10 season, yet his decisive goal in extra time did not make him much inferior.

"Agile, fast, smart, sharp—these are all characteristics of Iniesta’s playing style."

"When he first joined the Barcelona Youth Academy, he played as a ’number 4’, but with the accumulation of experience in the senior team, his position gradually moved forward."

"Nowadays, the versatile Iniesta can handle any position in Barcelona’s midfield and forward lines."

"Iniesta is not only technically adept but also humble and dedicated."

"His talent showcased on the football field has made him a role model for midfielders worldwide."

"Whenever he is on the field, opposing defenders are invariably on edge."

"Moreover, as his age increased, Iniesta improved in all aspects, most notably his shooting skills."

"This season, he attended the Golden Ball award ceremony as one of the three candidates for the Golden Ball."

"Finally, here is Golden Ball candidate Xavi."

"Both of them play for the Barcelona Club, having achieved extraordinary accomplishments."

Xavi spent his entire football career at Barcelona.

In July 1991, at just 11 years old, Xavi joined Barcelona to play football.

In the 1997-1998 season, the rapidly improving Xavi moved from the Barcelona Youth Team to the Barcelona second team.

At the Barcelona second team, Xavi quickly established himself as the midfield core, helping the team successfully promote to the Spanish second division league.

In 1998, 18-year-old Xavi’s dream came true, making his debut for Barcelona’s first team, facing the Mallorca Team in the Spanish Super Cup, Xavi started and scored a goal for Barcelona, delivering a perfect debut performance.

In the 1998-1999 season, under the leadership of Dutch coach Van Gaal, Barcelona claimed the La Liga championship, with Xavi being one of the contributors, scoring an important goal for Barcelona.

In the 1999-2000 season, due to long-term injuries to Barcelona’s main ’number 4’ Guardiola, Xavi was appointed as the main midfielder.

After Guardiola departed for Italy, Xavi became the organizational core of Barcelona’s midfield.

Regardless of changes in Barcelona’s head coach (Van Gaal, Reixach, Antic, Rijkaard, and Guardiola), Xavi remained a core player of the team.

When Xavi was 25 years old, he had already made 300 appearances for Barcelona, which was enough to demonstrate his importance within the team.

After Rijkaard became the head coach of Barcelona, Xavi’s midfield position frequently changed, but he performed excellently no matter where he played.

When Barcelona clinched the La Liga championship in the 2004-2005 season, Xavi played 36 matches in the league.

December 2, 2005, was an unforgettable day for Xavi.

On that day, Xavi’s movements during training were distorted, leading to the tearing of his left knee’s cruciate ligament, forcing him into prolonged recovery. Yet, he courageously made an early comeback, returning to the field 5 months later.

On April 29, 2006, Xavi’s "reappearance" occurred, making his comeback against Cadiz Team. Shortly afterward, he went on to win the La Liga and Champions League championships with Barcelona.

In the following two seasons, Xavi continued to participate in most matches as a main player, being one of coach Rijkaard’s most frequently used players.

In the 2007-2008 season, Xavi scored 7 goals for Barcelona, setting his highest personal season goal record. Previously, he had scored 4 goals in both the 2001-2002 and 2003-2004 seasons.

In Guardiola’s first season as head coach, Xavi continued to break his own goal record, scoring 10 goals in 54 matches. That season, Xavi and Iniesta together became Barcelona’s midfield engines, making it hard to imagine Barcelona claiming the "Triple Crown" or even later the "Six Crown" without Xavi.

Meanwhile, Xavi also became an absolute mainstay for the Spain National Team, representing Spain in 3 World Cups (2002, 2006, and 2010) and 2 European Cups (2004 and 2008), aiding Spain in successfully winning the 2008 European Cup, being named the best player of that tournament.

Additionally, at the end of that year, in FIFA’s "World Footballer of the Year" selection, Xavi ranked 5th.

In the 2010 South Africa World Cup, Xavi led Spain to lift their first-ever world championship trophy.

During that tournament, Xavi was Spain’s organizational core, also being the best passer throughout the competition.

However, Xavi and Iniesta both share a common point, that is, in the 09-10 season’s league, Barcelona did not win any significant championships, plus their personal statistics had slight flaws.

If Messi’s statistics could be granted to either Xavi or Iniesta, then the Golden Ball award would be undisputed.

If Barcelona had won any two of the league, King’s Cup, and Champions League championships last season, leaving Real Madrid with only a trivial award, then their chances for winning would have greatly increased.

Unfortunately, they did not.

"In every match, Xavi calmly and steadily organizes Barcelona’s offense and defense."

"Since occupying the position of Barcelona’s midfield organizer, Xavi has shown excellent vision."

"He is another outstanding representative of Barcelona’s traditional ’number 4’."

"As he aged, Xavi gradually learned to adapt to different positions."

"His excellent long-pass penetration ability and composure make him a core figure in Barcelona’s midfield."

"Xavi is adept at shielding the ball, making it difficult for opponents to steal the ball from his feet."

"Finally, his scoring and shooting skills are high, often scoring in open play or free-kicks."

As the commentator’s words concluded, the neatly dressed Guardiola already stood in front of the microphone, his shiny bald head glistening under the light. Facing the camera, Barcelona’s head coach opened the golden envelope in his hand, revealing a look of surprise and inevitability under countless pairs of eyes.

He cleared his throat, brought his mouth closer to the microphone, and announced the name.

"Chen Zhong."