Our 5 Kits That Define a Career series continues with the one and only Andres Iniesta.
Andres Iniesta is without a doubt one of the greatest midfielders of all time. He, along with Xavi and Sergio Busquets, were the centerpieces of the Barcelona and Spain teams that ran global football from the mid-2000s to the early-2010s.
Advertisement
Thanks to his dominance on both a club and international level, he’s worn some pretty special and memorable shirts during his time, and each one can etch its own moment into the history books.
So, to celebrate Iniesta, I’ve picked out five shirts that define his career. From Barcelona to Spain and even to Vissel Kobe, he won just about everything there was to win, and was one of the main men doing so.
Barcelona Home 2005-06
Photo by Luis Bagu/Getty Images
Advertisement
You’re probably screaming at your device’s screen, “This is a Ronaldinho shirt!” and you’re probably right. However, when looking at Iniesta’s career, this was the season where he announced himself. A La Liga and Champions League double, Iniesta featured 49 times over the season. While it wasn’t his most spectacular year, it showcased his talent and laid the foundations for his future success.
Barcelona Home and Away 2008-09
Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images
Advertisement
Photo by Jamie McDonald/Getty Images
“Two shirts in one? Doesn’t that make this list six shirts that defined Iniesta’s career?” Technically, you are correct. However, this is my list, so I make the rules.
This is the season when everyone started to take full notice of who Iniesta was. He was integral to Pep Guardiola’s system, playing a key part in his revolutionary side. The home shirt is in the list thanks to the Champions League final, and the away shirt because of his iconic goal against Chelsea, where he ripped the shirt off in celebration. This was also a treble-winning season, too, as Barcelona won the Copa del Rey and La Liga in addition to the Champions League triumph. Incredible.
Advertisement
Spain Away 2010
Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images
I don’t think this one requires much explanation, to be honest. Spain won the World Cup in 2010, and Iniesta was central to their success. Literally. He scored the winner in extra time in the final against the Netherlands, giving Spain their first-ever World Cup triumph.
The shirt they wore for the final was their blue away kit, and this has become synonymous with this era of football. In typical Iniesta fashion, it seems, he ripped it off in celebration just like he did in that game against Chelsea. Seems to be his style. Regardless, the shirt is a beautiful one, even if they all put their red home shirt on to lift the trophy.
Advertisement
Barcelona Home 2014-15
Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images
There’s a bit of a theme here, and it’s that all of Iniesta’s most notable shirts come from when he’s won the Champions League. It’s hard not to talk about that when a player has won four of them, though.
This one is a bit different to the last two, and while you probably expected the 2010-11 win to be in here as well, this one defines a different moment in his career. Iniesta was edging toward veteran status here, as he was 31 years old when he won this title. His hair was nearly gone, but he still had plenty of game left in the tank.
Advertisement
A 3-1 win over Juventus in the Champions League final topped off another treble-winning season for Iniesta and Barcelona. With Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Luis Suarez as their front three, and Iniesta and Busquets joined by Ivan Rakitic in midfield, this was Luis Enrique’s version of Barça, and it was just as dominant.
A moment that demonstrated longevity and evolution.
Vissel Kobe Home 2018-19
Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe/Getty Images
Entering the twilight of his career, Iniesta left Barcelona and made for Japan. Joining Vissel Kobe was a huge moment for the J-League as one of the game’s biggest stars entered the fold. He essentially became the face of growth for Japanese football and signified its value as a footballing nation. As expected, he continued to display his mastery. In his first season with Vissel Kobe, he won the Emperor’s Cup, a major honor in Japan.
Advertisement
If we don’t count the random stint in the UAE in 2023-24, Vissel Kobe was the club of his final (proper) chapter. A J-League title topped off his time there, although he didn’t feature much in his last season.
An illustrious career, defined by some of the most iconic shirts in the game. And those shirts were made iconic by the likes of Andres Iniesta. A special footballer, who won it all, Iniesta was magic and is etched in the history books as one of the best to do it.
