5 football players who remained friends despite playing for rival teams

#1 Andres Iniesta and Dani Jarque

Iniesta received international praise for his gesture

The 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa brings to our mind beautiful pictures of Spain’s fantastic campaign. One of the most popular pictures from the World Cup would surely be that of Andres Iniesta celebrating his 116th-minute winner against Netherlands. The midfielder slotted the ball into the goal and ran towards the fans on his left as he took off his jersey to reveal the words ‘Dani Jarque siempre con nosotros’, (Dani Jarque, always with us).

Iniesta’s gesture was in memory of his friend Dani Jarque who had passed away a year before in August 2009. Dani Jarque who played for Barcelona’s rivals from the other side of the city, Espanyol, began his friendship with Iniesta from their time in the Spanish youth teams. Their friendship deepened as they grew up together in the Spanish youth teams representing the country at every level from 16 to 21.

At the age of 26, Jarque died after suffering a heart attack while on the phone. Iniesta’s gesture earned him a standing ovation when Barcelona player Espanyol in 2010. Their friendship proved that to be stronger than any division between the clubs.