Xavi vs Iniesta

Xavi or Iniesta, who was better?

  • Total voters
    46
RedxMAK

RedxMAK

Active member
Personally, I Prefer Xavi Slightly More, Because Xavi Was The Main Component Of Barcelona’s Golden Generation (2008-12) He Always Dictated The Play And Controlled The Tempo Especially In The 2011 UCL Final. While Iniesta Might Seem More Decisive Than Xavi, Xavi Still Controlled Those Games. And As Soon As Xavi Declined, Barcelona’s Presence In The Midfield Was Severely Affected Only Being Redeemed By Iniesta.
 
khaled_a_d

khaled_a_d

Senior Member
Only in 2008 it was Xavi team. There was a reason they pushed Xavi out of position many games in the World Cup, where he had to play with his back to the opponent's goal. They changed the game to fit double pivot of Busquets and Alonso. That wasn't a Xavi team. In 2012 Iniesta was the better player.

Xavi greatest time as Barca was 2008-2011. Pep first 3 seasons. Before it he was a very good player but not WC, and after it he was the main culprit of our European downfall.

Iniesta was more consistent, durable and system independent than Xavi, and even more talented. Never mind being the more versatile player, who played in most positions on the pitch, from wing back to winger, from CDM to AM.

He was influential in 4 CL title, Xavi was influential in only 2.
 
jamrock

jamrock

Senior Member
Changing the system to fit in Xabi, wasn't a knock on Xavi the way it reads in your text.

Xabi was simply too good to leave out and Xavi was way more adaptable than him.

Xavi was the key to Spain winning all 3 of the titles they won, probably edges Iniesta for all 3, Iniesta edges in we only include 2010 and 2012.

2012 final Xavi was ungodly good.

Iniesta was better in throughout the tournament though.

2010 world cup, basically the opposite.
 
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Catta

Catta

Senior Member
The only reason Xavi doesn't have the Ballon dOr, is because Iniesta scored the WC winning goal. Had it been any other player, Xavi would have won it, Iniesta got hyped because of it and it costed Xavi valuable points in the Ballon race.

The level Xavi showed from 2008-2012 is the greatest from any midfielder ever.

Without prime Xavi both Spain and Barca fell of. He was always the harder player to replace.
 
khaled_a_d

khaled_a_d

Senior Member
And the only reason Xavi was in top 3, was because Iniesta scored that goal in the first place, with Spain having one of the ugliest World Cup champion campaigns ever. Otherwise top 3 wouldn't have had any Spanish player, deservingly. So, it isn't like Iniesta robbed him or something. He is one of the main reasons Xavi got such recognition, not Otherwise. Xavi winning it over Messi and Wesley Sneijder would have been more undeserving than 2018 Modric.

Some mental gymnastics out there
 
serghei

serghei

Senior Member
Xavi had 31 assists in 2008-09 season when he played more like a CM-AM variant. He could excel at playing higher up in a more attacking position as he had a masterful passing ability. Those years 2008 and 2009, Xavi showed he could perform an Iniesta role to an incredibly high level. After 2009 when we transitioned to a pure tiki-taka monster possession-based team, Xavi was dropped lower because of his unique controller abilities. The game just flowed with him making the connections between compartments.

He played deeper after 2009 because he was too valuable as a controller in the first and middle sections of the field. To have peak Xavi today would be a game changer for everyone around him. Someone is pressing you and you are out of options? Xavi was always in reach for a quick release, at the right angle to defuse the pressing situation. He was a metronome in midfield.
 
serghei

serghei

Senior Member
I give Iniesta superior dribbling ability and a great sense for clutch moments. Which are big advantages, but everything else, Xavi did better. Xavi had a very large bag of skills. Unusual for a CM to also possess the passing ability of a no10. Iniesta was more specialized in a particular set of skills.
 
jamrock

jamrock

Senior Member
Nah Xavi could have been top 3 anyways.

If he scored in the final instead of Iniesta he would have won, is probably his reasoning.

I don't know what ugliness has to do with anything, plenty of team has won it playing worse than Spain.

Actually scratch that, the majority of teams that have won it played worse than Spain.

Xavi winning would be no more injustice than many others who won it on the back of being the best player for the team that won the WC.
 
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V

vegitot

Senior Member
serghei said:
Xavi had 31 assists in 2008-09 season when he played more like a CM-AM variant. He could excel at playing higher up in a more attacking position as he had a masterful passing ability. Those years 2008 and 2009, Xavi showed he could perform an Iniesta role to an incredibly high level. After 2009 when we transitioned to a pure tiki-taka monster possession-based team, Xavi was dropped lower because of his unique controller abilities. The game just flowed with him making the connections between compartments.

He played deeper after 2009 because he was too valuable as a controller in the first and middle sections of the field. To have peak Xavi today would be a game changer for everyone around him. Someone is pressing you and you are out of options? Xavi was always in reach for a quick release, at the right angle to defuse the pressing situation. He was a metronome in midfield.
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Xavi played like a free role in midfield for Barca. With Spain he played in a 10 role but still drop deep and was everywhere on the pitch. His chance created stats during that period for Spain were incredible.

Btw Iniesta mostly played as a supporting role and didn't have the team build around him.
 
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