The Greatest Spanish Footballers of all-time

No.1 Xavi

Widely regarded as one of the greatest midfielders of all-time, Xavi was a wonderful midfielder who could play in a variety of playmaking rolls and who won literally everything their was to win with Barcelona and Spain. He would form a fantastic midfield trio at both club and international level with Andrés Iniesta and Sergio Busquets, the almost telepathic understanding between the players would perfectly compliment the tiki-taka style of play for which they became renowned.

No.2 Andrés Iniesta

Andrés Iniesta, the Spanish football maestro, is widely regarded as one of the greatest midfielders of his generation. Known for his exceptional technical skills, elegant dribbling, and precise passing, Iniesta's playing style epitomized finesse and creativity. His ability to control the tempo of the game and make decisive contributions in crucial moments made him a revered figure in the footballing world. Iniesta's intelligence, composure, and leadership on the field earned him admiration from fans and players alike, solidifying his status as a true icon of the sport.

No.3 Iker Casillas

Surely one of the most decorated goalkeepers in the history of the game, Iker Casillas won literally everything in football that there was to win: five La Liga titles, two Copa del Rey winners medals, three Champions League titles, two Intercontinental Cups, a FIFA Club World Cup, not one but two European Champions titles, and to top it all off he was the captain as Spain beat Holland to win the 2010 World Cup, keeping a clean sheet in the final against Holland. What a career. With a plethora of titles and individual accolades to his name, he has rightfully earned his place among the all-time greats of the game. His leadership and heroics in goal for both Real Madrid and the national team have left an indelible mark on Spanish football history whilst his technical prowess, agility, and exemplary decision-making became a benchmark for aspiring goalkeepers worldwide.

No.10 Gerard Piqué

Gerard Pique was a composed and intelligent defender known for his excellent positional sense, reading of the game, and ability to anticipate the movements of his opponents. He was also a skilled passer of the ball and comfortable bringing the ball out of defence, making him a perfect fit for both Barcelona and Spain's possession-based style of play. With both teams he won almost everything there was to win both domestically and internationally.

No.11 Jesús María Zamora

A legend of Real Sociedad, Zamora was a fantastic midfielder who, along with the likes of Arconada, Satrustegui and Lopez Ufarte, helped Los Txuri-Urdin claim two La Liga titles in the early 1980s.

No.12 David Silva

Beautiful, graceful Spanish midfielder, whose intelligence, movement, passing and skill meant that he could be deployed in almost any attacking role. Michael Laudrup was David Silva's idol growing up, and you can see the similarities in his style, one of those rare breed of footballers, just like the great Dane, who almost seemed to glide effortlessly around the pitch, finding spaces wherever he roamed from which to inflict damage on the opposition.

No.13 José Mari Bakero

Jose Maria Bakero was known for his technical skills and creativity on the field, often playing in an attacking midfield role. Bakero had fantastic eight year spells with two clubs, Real Sociedad and Barcelona, helping both clubs win multiple La Liga titles and playing a pivotal role in Barcelona's first European Cup triumph in 1992.

No.14 Julen Guerrero

A one-club man with Athletic Bilbao, Guerrero was an attacking midfielder with silky skills, a brilliant range of passing with both feet, and a goalscoring rate that was the envy of many out-and-out strikers. This ability, and his film star looks, made him one of football's hottest properties in the 1990s. However, he would earn himself legendary status at the Basque club when he turned down the advances of some of Europe's biggest teams to stay at the club where he'd been since he was eight years old. Whilst his loyalty to the club wouldn't be rewarded with any silverware, Guerrero did pick up an individual award, being named as Spanish Player of the Year in 1994.

No.15 Diego Tristán

Spanish forward best known for a fine six year spell at the start of the 2000s with Deportivo de La Coruña that would see him top La Liga's goalscoring charts in 2002, becoming only the second player in the club's history to do so (Bebeto being the first, in 1993). For three of his seasons at Riazor, Tristan would form a great partnership with Dutch striker Roy Makaay, the two of them scoring a combined 106 La Liga goals during the three seasons they played together.

No.16 Miguel Tendillo

Terrific centre-back who had seven great years with Valencia, the team he'd come up through the youth ranks, before moving to Real Madrid later in his career and having five great seasons there that would see him help the club win three La Liga titles.

No.17 José Ángel Iribar

Nicknamed "Chopo", José Ángel Iribar was the best goalkeeper in Spain in the 1960s-70s and was the national team's keeper when Spain won their first international title, the European Championship, in 1964.

Iribar remains an icon of Athletic Bilbao, playing more than 600 matches for the Basque club between 1962 and 1980. During the 1970-71 season he kept clean sheets for ten consecutive matches, going 1,018 minutes unbeaten. He was renowned for his leadership, physicality, bravery and fantastic positioning and reading of the game. His goalkeeping style and looks also led to him being referred to in Italy as "Zoff's Twin".

No.18 Pep Guardiola

Pep Guardiola's playing career was highly successful, and he established himself as one of the best Spanish midfielders of his time during a long career with Barcelona. Guardiola's international career was also highly successful, and he helped Spain reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup on two occasions. Guardiola's coaching career has been even more successful, and he is widely regarded as one of the best coaches in the world. Guardiola's impact on the game of football cannot be overstated, and his legacy will continue to be felt for many years to come.

No.19 Rafael Gordillo

No.20 Víctor Muñoz

No.29 Iván Campo

No.30 Iván de la Peña

Ivan de la Pena, known as "The Little Buddha," was a Spanish footballer renowned for his elegant playing style and technical brilliance. He was a creative midfielder with exceptional ball control and dribbling ability. De la Pena's close control allowed him to navigate through tight spaces and weave past defenders effortlessly. His vision and passing accuracy were top-notch, enabling him to create scoring opportunities for his teammates with precision. Additionally, he possessed a powerful and accurate long-range shot, making him a threat from outside the box. De la Pena's playing style showcased finesse, flair, and an innate ability to dictate the flow of the game.