Simply the best

Last nights early kick off in the Champions League saw Barcelona pick up an away point at Rubin Kazan. The game was entirely dominated by Barca but with all that possession they simply could not break the Russian side down. Amidst all of this was the shining light of Andres Iniesta; in my opinion the best midfielder currently playing the game. He possesses the passing range of Xavi and the guile of Messi. The fact that he scored the winning goal in the World Cup Final and dedicated it to Dani Jarque (a close friend who died tragically in 2009) shows the humility of the man. Last night he did not score but was at the centre of everything Barca did well.

There was a moment in the game with Athletic Bilbao at the weekend where he chased an overhit pass to the bye line; he controlled the ball instantly after it dropped over his head and then simply back healed it in the same moment with his other foot to Maxwell. There are only a handful of players who could have done that in the world and make it look so easy; many of them being his club and international team mates.

Much is made of the physical fitness and strength of players in the modern game and Iniesta demonstrates how with a good technique you can outmanoeuvre anyone.