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When it comes to iconic midfielders, very few rank higher than Andres Iniesta. Not only was he the man who netted the winner for Spain in the 2010 World Cup final, but he was a key part of a Barcelona team that may well be remembered as the greatest team to ever exist.
The legendary La Masia graduate won nine La Ligas and four Champions League titles across his career, which go some way to making him the most decorated Spanish footballer of all time with 35 trophies in total.
For many, this makes him the best Spaniard of all time. It is interesting, then, that he once named an Englishman as a ‘reference’ point for all footballers across the world.
Iniesta Praised Frank Lampard
‘He’s got all my respect’
Talking in 2015 ahead of Barcelona’s Champions League clash with Manchester City, as quoted by FourFourTwo, Iniesta reserved some special praise for one opposition midfielder. Speaking of England icon Frank Lampard, the Spaniard said:
“Lampard is a reference in football, both in England and worldwide. I can’t say much more about him.
“He is really experienced both at club and international level. He’s got all my respect and huge credit to him as he’s one of those players you can look at and learn.”
Barcelona would actually go on to win the Champions League that year, with Iniesta and co beating Man City 3-1 across two legs in the last-16. At that stage towards the end of his career, Lampard would only feature in one game, coming on as a substitute in the first leg.
The Englishman’s best years came in a Chelsea shirt. Indeed, he would win three Premier League titles as well as his own Champions League with the Blues, making him one of the club’s greatest ever players. He is also one of a handful of players to manage over 100 caps for the Three Lions, proving himself to be an England legend in the process.
Related
‘Special Fans’: Andres Iniesta Named British Ground ‘No Stadium in Europe Compares to’
The Barcelona icon loved playing there.
Lampard Also Had a Lot of Respect for Iniesta
‘You couldn’t get near him’
It seems as though the players had a mutual respect for one another, as Lampard would more than return the praise, going one step further to name Iniesta as the toughest opponent he faced in his entire career. He explained:
“He could go either way on you. Not many midfield players who play in that central area wanted to take you on so much. They wanted to pass or run. I played against great players – Stevie G, physically brilliant, but some of the times he (Iniesta) would open up on you and he could take you either way and you couldn’t get near him.”
Both men are certainly regarded among the very best players of their generation, and it would have been special had they ever got to share the pitch as teammates, instead of opponents.
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