8 key moments from the career of Andrés Iniesta

May 11, 1984, saw the birth of Andrés Iniesta Luján at Fuentealbilla, a small village in the province of Albacete, Castile-La Mancha, Spain. 34 years later, the same person will be bringing the curtain down on his glorious Barcelona career at the end of the season after 22 years at the club from joining as an academy and 31 major honours with the 32nd one on the way, courtesy a sure-shot La Liga win this season.

Also a two-time Euro Cup winner and the 2010 World Cup winner with Spain, Iniesta's career is now at a point where he can easily be called one of the greatest ever midfielders to rule the football pitch.

Iniesta has been a first-team player at both Barcelona and the Spanish national side for close to 17 years and has been a veritable star of the team for almost 12.

It is a testament to his longevity that he stayed at the top for so long. But, making way for younger players, the 2010 World Cup final scorer is now ready to take on a new challenge elsewhere.

Here's a look back at Iniesta's finest career moments...

---

#1 First Team Debut

Iniesta at 18 years old, playing against Club Brugge

Having been invited to train with the Barça first team from as young as 16, Iniesta was eventually handed his senior debut in 2002.

Louis van Gaal, then in his second spell at Camp Nou, was the manager at the time and gave an 18-year-old Iniesta 90 minutes in a Champions League group game win against Club Brugge.

He later played against Bayer Leverkusen and Newcastle United in the second group stage, before making his Spanish League debut in December 2002 against Real Mallorca.

#2 Maiden European Title

Barcelona celebrate their second goal against Arsenal

Amidst speculations to leave Barcelona for Real Betis, Iniesta was not a regular starter in 2004/05 or 2005/06, despite featuring in most games. Age was, however, on his side.

The team was dominated by international stars like Ronaldinho and Deco at that time, still, coach Frank Rijkaard turned to Iniesta to help change the game when Barça were losing 1-0 at half-time in the 2006 Champions League final against Arsenal.

Just 22 at the time, he replaced the more defensive minded Edmilson, and when Henrik Larsson appeared later in the game, the scoreline was turned on its head, as Barca ran away the eventual winners.

#3 THAT Goal Against Chelsea

Iniesta celebrates his knocking out of Chelsea

Chelsea can perhaps feel hard done by the fact that they didn't progress to the Champions League final for a second successive year in 2009. They were denied several very strong penalty appeals in the crucial second leg of the semi-final against Barça those which, had they been allowed, would have comfortably put them through.

Leading 1-0 on aggregate, Chelsea were on course to make it to the final and only refereeing luck kept the Catalans in the tie. But there was nothing lucky about the 93rd-minute equaliser that Iniesta scored to break Chelsea hearts and see Barça prevail on away goals.

With one swing of his weaker foot, he found the top corner, sending shockwaves across Europe. Barcelona then prevailed over Manchester United off the pitch in the final to complete a historic treble.

#4 World Cup Winner

History about to be witnessed at Jo'burg

Iniesta's place as one of the best players in the world had been cemented with his presence in Spain's Euro 2008 winning team, breaking the country's 44-year international silverware drought, and Barcelona's 2008/09 treble.

The winning continued throughout the 2009/10 season at club level, before making history when he scored the goal that sealed Spain's first ever World Cup title.

An infamously physical match between La Roja and the Netherlands in Johannesburg was goal-less for 116 minutes until Iniesta popped up with a cool finish to win the World Cup. He was so phenomenal that year that a lot of football pundits speculated the first neither-Messi-nor-Ronaldo winner of the Ballon d'Or, in him that year, which, unfortunately, didn't happen.

#5 The Sextuple Season

(From left)Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez of Barcelona celebrate with the Copa-del-Rey trophies, one of the six titles they clinched in 2014-15

A treble win is rare, especially in Spain, and a sextuple is rarest of the rare. But Iniesta helped Barcelona accomplish that unmatched feat in the 2014/15 season.

Injury had limited some of his participation in La Liga that season, but Iniesta, who was increasingly wearing the captain's armband for Barça as Xavi's career began to wind down, was a regular in the Copa del Rey and played in all but two Champions League games.

He led the team out for both finals, against Athletic Bilbao domestically and against Juventus in Europe, while his Champions League triumph was a new joint record he held with colleague Xavi and Messi for the most wins since the competition rebranded itself in 1992.

#6 Standing Ovation at the Bernabeu

Iniesta celebrates after scoring against Real Madrid in 2015

Madridistas are a tough crowd to please, ask Cristiano Ronaldo himself.

A standing ovation in a Clásico at the Bernabeu is the ultimate in respect and admiration, that too for a Barcelona player, and Iniesta achieved just that when he applauded from the pitch after helping Barça destroy Real in November 2015. The humongous honour had previously gone to Ronaldinho 10 years earlier, and Diego Maradona much before.

Iniesta set up one goal for Neymar, scored an unstoppable effort of his own and was generally masterful throughout, before replaced in the closing stages to receive the praise he deserved from a set of home supporters who knew they had just witnessed greatness, regardless of his shirt.

#7 The last Copa del Rey title

Iniesta with the CDR title

Iniesta collected his 31st Barcelona trophy with victory in the Copa del Rey final over Sevilla earlier this month. By that point, it had become clear that he was readying himself to announce his departure and the maestro was tearful as he held the trophy aloft.

The final was something of a walkover for Barça, crushing Sevilla 5-0 in the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid. Iniesta himself scored the fourth goal of the game early in the second half and replaced for the final few minutes by Denis Suarez to receive a deserved standing ovation from Sevilla supporters as well as his own.

#8 The final La Liga title

Iniesta responds to a warm applause after the La Liga match between Deportivo La Coruna and Barcelona at Estadio Riazor on April 29, 2018, when Barca assured this season's La Liga triumph

Iniesta will earn his 32nd and final Barcelona trophy by the end of May, the La Liga title of this season. He has already announced his departure from the club and has also said that he will not play in any European nation as he does not want to face his love, Barcelona, in any occasion.

The whole league this season has seen Barcelona literally steamrolling their rivals, maintaining a clear lead in points since the earliest games of this season. Arch-rivals Real Madrid stand at a miserable fourth spot, as Barca remain undefeated in the league so far, with just one more game to go.

Throughout the season, Iniesta has started a whole bunch of games but has never completed any, often giving way to Paulinho or Denis or Coutinho as and when needed. Still, Iniesta remains as Ernesto Valverde's prime attacking option in the midfield, with "The Don's" touch a vital cog in many goals throughout the season.

As Iniesta seeks newer pastures, it is time to wish him all the best in all future endeavours, and also to wish him a very Happy Birthday.