Spain. He was voted best player of Euro 2008, but soccer’ s bias against the provider is such that he has never won the Ballon d’ Or for World Footballer of the Year. It doesn’ t matter. Without Xavi there is no Messi, as Messi’ s flounderings with Argentina demonstrate. Xavi incarnates the greatest teams of our day.
Number 16: Lothar Matthaus There is no trophy Lothar Matthus has not lifted at one time over his 20-year career. He first reached prominence with his second club, then-powerhouse Borussia Monchengladbach. His talents didn ' t go unnoticed, as he was included in the West German national squad that tooXavi was raised practically from birth in 1980 to be soccer’ s version of a quarterback – or, as they call it in Barcelona, a“ number four”. Josep Guardiola filled the role in the Nou Camp stadium before Xavi, and Andres Iniesta and Cesc Fabregas followed soon afterwards. Iniesta outdoes Xavi for pace, and Fabregas in his nose for goal, but Xavi is the ultimate master of the pass. This must be why Fabregas once said, with Xavian modesty,“ Xavi is several classes better than me.” Xavi hits passes, left to right, up and down, usually short, like someone filling in a crossword