@@Donatello777 I preferred Iniesta over Xavi, but they were both midfield GOATs with very different playstyles. If you ask who was more important it’s impossible, but together theyre the greatest midfield duo of all time
If it's about midfielders then it's always Xavi for me. He moulded Barca. Even though he wasn't fastest or the deadliest in scoring what he had was unmatchable. Pure brilliance and the biggest brain on the pitch. If the question was for who's the smartest player then it surely would hv been Xavi for sure.
For me it is Xavi no doubt his playmaking, vision and dribbling was so beautiful to watch and so simple to do yet he made history with it! I am so glad he is back helping Barca especially as a fan, it is soo good to see this once average squad to become great again slowly. Xavi is a genius 💙❤
People seriously overlook Xavi when talking about how good he is.. Zidane and Iniesta are always held at higher regard than Xavi for some reason…when in fact he has a good argument to be better than both of them.. “Xavi is the Greatest Spanish Footballer of All Time” - Lionel Messi
Xavi Hernandez 08/09 season Match played- 52 Goals- 11 Assist- 32 Total g/a = 43 that is absurd as a pivot man the best season a midfielder could have the absolute pinnacle and i literally don't want to bring the trophy thing here He is the one changed the game as people used to thing only physical midfielder will work in modern football and what he did he control the game like no other ever did not even legendary Johan cryuff his passing was the best even Micheal laudrap would have proud of He is by far the the most influential midfielder of all time along with Zidane Definitely one of the best player of all time Football's very own puppet master
@@dinisfonseca6305 see when you are talking about greats like Xavi Iniesta Zidane Platini laudrap lothar matthaus stat doesn't matter everytime you see Lampard has better stat than all of those legend so according to stat he should be better than all of them right but he is not
I think he actually means stats go way further than just goals/assists. For instance Ronaldo has about 60%-70% of the assists Messi has, but anyone that has watched both of them perform over the last 15 years knows that Messi exerts so much more influence on a match and creates wayyyyyy more. Andres has pretty mediocre assist stats, but he often gave the before-assist, passing to the guy who would end up assiting (wide men, full backs).
Best comment i read somewhere about xavi is" if you are playing with xavi, you don't have to worry about offside cause xavi will calculate it for you!"
Xavi & iniesta is the best midfield duo ever. Getting the ball off iniesta is is arguably still known as the hardest thing ever in football. That together with messi and xavi is just unfair
In my opinion as a Real Madrid fan. Xavi should be remembered not as one of the greatest midfielders, but rather... One of the greatest players in history. He made simple football look so beautiful, he had the IQ that could rival the finest in the sport, the very embodiment of the Tika taka style of football that made Barcelona a dominant side and the greatest club team ever, and the pivotal figure of one of the greatest national sides in history. Xavi is without a doubt Spain's greatest ever played. Even as a Real fan, how could I not want this guy to succeed at Barcelona? He will bring Barcelona to the glory days again, because he is just a masterpiece of a figure in the beautiful game.
Whenever someone mentions Xavi I think of Iniesta and vice versa. Individually they were one of the best to grace this sport. Together, they were the best midfield duo there ever was.
Xavi deserves to be spoken about when talking about footballs greatest. He inspires me to be a better player and I don’t even play much. He was truly a once in a lifetime player to watch. An unmatched midfielder even today. Xavi was and will remain the G.O.A.T midfielder in my eyes
Xavi almost never lost the ball when he had it. First time i noticed him was 2004 against AC Milan away game. Barca lost 1-0 but i was impressed by how he kept the ball and his passing and vision.
I never realized how good Xavi was at keeping the ball under pressure. And those ridiculous flicks when someone was ontop of him just crazy. Definitely had eagle eyes 🦅👁️.
We'll never have another era when we can watch for several years a team with players like Xavi, Iniesta, Alves and Messi take on another squad with Benzema, Kroos, Ronaldo and Modric. I really miss it.
this man literally knows how it feels like when a golden era finishes and u are barely able to qualify for next season's cl, its like history repeating itself
True! But not all great players can make great managers. Xavi was mentored by Pep and learned a lot from him. And Xavi’s genius comes from him understanding the game 👀 🤝
If you say pele God of football. Then the God of simple football is 100% xavi. A genius once said - playing football is simple. But playing simple football is the hardest thing to do. And thanks to raymour RUclips channel for remembering the guy who saved Barcelona.
2008 Spain winning wasn't a surprise at all they the heavy favourites I still remember before the tournament started being a small kid discussing with my cousins the depth of that squad with likes Torres , villa , fabregas , Xavi , iniesta , puyol , casilas , David Silva and everyone was predicting Spain to win
Spain were favorites for a lot of tournaments but were well known as being "also rans" who would always show glimpses of greatness but lose out to the bigger nations like Italy, Germany, Argentina, Brazil, and France. So it was a surprise because they had that "they have the talent but never put it together" vibe.
I moved to Tokyo a few months ago, and I plan on watching him play in April! I think it might be his last season. Man is still scoring goals out here!!
Xavi is indeed a Barça god. Not just a legend. He had to work, really really hard, his way up the fans' hearts to having that status now. A true inspiration.
Raymaaar! :D Xavi was just majestic. I'm so happy I got to watch him, Iniesta and Busi play teams to shreds. Dude had a football IQ that is damned near unrivalled. So happy to see him at the helm, coaching the likes of Pedri, Gavi and Nico. They'll benefit a ton from having the god of passing himself, guiding them. Edit: Would love to see a video on David Beckham! I don't believe you've covered him yet ;) Thanks for the video, Raymar!
They’re young and full of talent and if they work hard, could revive Spain as an international powerhouse 👀 And yeah I definitely need to do one on him!
I'm a die hard Réal Madrid fan, but, this Guy was truly a masterpiece as a footballer. Him and that wizard called Iniesta gave me so many sleepless nights
i mean the fact that in fifa in one point he was the same rating as ronaldo and 1 off messi is pretty amazing and if those 2 never existed then he wouldve won ballon dors and been remembered a lot more fondly
Raymar I really like the fact that you take the time to reply to most of the comments on your channel given the size of your audience, and not in a scripted way but you're literally just chillin and being genuine.
this channel is so under-rated this guy speaks nothing but truth and even if he likes a rival player he sill gives the other guy the respect he deserves great job I will definitely keep watching
Realistically xavi iniesta and busquets are the absolute pinnacle of any midfield in history. There’s no other midfield in history that can control the pace of the game, retain the ball, or make the players around them better than these 3. A true pleasure to of been able to watch them.
I'm still wondering how Bayern battered them in 2013? I couldn't believe my eyes. Had they become complacent? Too dependent on Messi? I might need to watch that match again. It hurt too much the 1st time those two legs
@@seetsamolapo5600 "you must agree to what I'm saying else you're a liar". Dude, your Barca cult can have your own image of what pinnacle football looks like while others can have a separate image of what pinnacle football looks like. It may be superior to you but not to me. Don't try to superimpose your crap on others lol
@@ayazniazi3476 I'm not superimposing anything. Are you the the type of person who believes in multiple truths? Let's look at objective measures. Facts don't care about feelings.
At 9:05 where you said "and thus history was made , and the infamous tiki taka playstyle was born" i literally cried the shit outa my eyes for the rest of the video. Today's generation of football owes so much to that version of Barcelona.
This momentum is giving me 2009 vibes. Xavi bring back Barca back that Madrid rivalry. Both want to be on top and tomorrows Classico is going to be a small preview. As a Madrid fan, I knew this time was coming where Xavi was going to come back and lift up Barca. Back in 2009, I was 13 and I remember hating that whole Barca squad because they were so unbeatable. Now Xavi back is giving me flashbacks lol. Mbappe to the rescue I suppose
For me it's between Zidane and xavi as the 1 & 2 greatest Midfielders of all time ,people say Iniesta was better than xavi because of Iniesta's dribbling ,but those who understand football know the importance of xavi and his performances in the biggest games , he had an assist in WC semi finals,assist in 2 euro finals, assist in 2 UCL finals ,and if you want stats go check his 08/09 season stats
@@RaymarFootball true my top 10 Greatest Midfielders Of All time 1. ZIDANE 2. Xavi 3.Iniesta 4.Modric 5.Pirlo 6.Lothar Matthaus 7.Zico 8.Seedorf 9. Makelele 10. Scholes
Let me remind you if you are forgetting there was man name Diego Maradona who played in midfield too but in attacking midfield. I have not seen him play live but from what I have seen of him and heard from the ones who watched him is that he could play football really well.
@@andreanderson4360 Modric over Pirlo, Matthaus and Zico? He is one of the most overrated players of all time. Zico was the best footballer in the world from 1979 to 1982, and kept his consistency in 1983 and 1984 too.
i love how iniesta and xavi praised eachother, basically saying eachother we’re flawless, like xavi saying if he was struggling he’d just pass to iniesta
This was a beautiful video essay, man! I used to watch football, especially international football, as a child during the early 2000s & started watching properly after 2012. I started following Barcelona because of Messi but then I understood the legacy of the club & the magical duo of Xavi & Iniesta. This video portrays everything....great job!
Correct, people forget how Xavi basically started the entire charade of getting the team to surround and bully referees, taught pique how to complain about literally everything, and acted with less class than a drunk who was just denied by a woman at a bar after a loss. Modric is clear on multiple levels, Iniesta on the other hand was superior to Xavi and played the game the right way as well as being a likeable and respectable person off the pitch.
I love Modric but still think he shouldn’t have won the 2018 ballon dor. I mean Iniesta achieved the same and more as modric in 2010 and he got 2nd place. Xavi played a lot differently from Modric so it’s hard to compare, but one thing for sure, Xavi & Iniesta untouchable as a midfield duo!
@@archiegabiazon barca delusionist. Modric is a better player. Not deserving kf his balon d’or, but if he was born in a country like Spain, Italy, France… he’d have had a much different international career. At club level anyone who denies how great he has been is blind. Iniesta is much more similar to modric but modric was a far better defender. Really a direct comparison between Modric, Xavi, or Iniesta isn’t ideal as modric is more of a combination of the two of them. I’ll gladly be a “casual” remembering that scumbag move Xavi pulled putting a barca kit on fabregas and distracting from his countries triumph. Or his countless whining to the media and interjecting on everything. Great footballer, but id much rather have modric or hell, maybe even Xabi Alonso.
@@xjimmemakesmusicx So we're talking about defensive abilities rn? In Xavi's prime he can occassionally play the CDM role providing a bridge between the back 4 and the midfield. Something modric cannot even do. Take away modric in Real and what will career achievements be?
Just remember Spain at one point, I think the 2012 euro final starting 11 had no strikers and no wingers it was just a defence and a midfield, they completely dominated Italy
Xavi--1 of the 🐐 for sure! Love how you said that little thing about your government "assisting" you. Great job keeping it real and delivering facts..Respect
13:27 Pedri Xavi is a genious, probably the highest IQ in football. For me is probably one of the greatests of all time. Doesnt surprise me that he is also a good coach.
His passing was incredible. The Tiki-taka style played by Barcelona then seems to have been centred around Xavi. He rarely lost possession! In my opinion he was one of the best Midfielders in History.
He is the perfect coach because even as a player he wasnt relying on his physical capabilities but rather on his understanding of football. Ofcourse his passing and dribbles were amazing but he wasnt the fastest and he didnt have the best shooting. He also wasnt that strong. He played with his mind and that understanding of football is extremely rare. With his knowledge he can actually teach a team how to play good football even if they are not super special players although that does help alot. Unlike koeman who was a great player his understanding of football just is not good enough which is very normal and he did give his best for barça. I always felt that players like xavi would be the best coaches because of their understanding of football.
Knowing where to stand and what to do while on the pitch is an extremely important skill. Xavi was the best at this. It is not easy teaching a player how to do it.
From coaching perspective his PRECISION is off the charts. ~90% passing, and 2+ assists in consecutive European finals speaks for itself. From a free #8! His body position and ability to "play from a spot" are textbook. Watch how often he stops the ball dead, scans, and waits LONGER THAN you think reasonable/safe before 1) delivery of buttery pass of Spanish quality 2) Body position/minimal skill to slip 1st defender 3) NEVER lose the ball via bad pass, force the defense to come and take it. Players like him are adored. The closest that comes to mind for me is Moussa Dembele (Tottenham Hotspur) paired with Christian Eriksen during the Pochettino days. With two scary fullbacks (Prime Danny Rose and Kyle Walker) he could carry the ball box to box, provide the penultimate pass for Eriksen who get's to be Iniesta. The primary overlap between the two is body position and emphasis on maintenance of possession above all else. Though they did it in very different ways, in very different systems. tl:dr - Goat. Intricate possession systems fall apart without passing productivity like his. And his best passes are often hockey assists, not the stat fillers. He stepped up in BIG games from his debut til retirement. Free #8 with >80% passing is great. His was 90%+ in the champions league multiple times.
I’ve always said Xavi was the greatest midfielder of that generation. Made everything look effortless, could play in the tightest spaces, never lost the ball, dictated games, insane passing
Everyone be like tiki taka was only possible for Xavi and Iniesta but in the corner there lies another superhuman talent named Sergio Busquests go his still and this very age the main controler of FCB's game .. he is also very very underrated
For me he's the best central midfielder in history. And also it would be an injustice to not make a video on his partner in crime Iniesta. Btw fantastic video.
Simply one of the best footballers ever, regardless of position. He made everything happen at one of the best teams ever to play the game. A mastermind who never gave the ball away, never made bad passes pretty much ever. Himself, Iniesta and Busquets all played together, along with Messi who played everywhere in the midfield and attack - a unique force of football at the time, and Xavi was the conductor. It won't be repeated.
Version 1.0 : Rinus Michels Version 2.0 : Johan Cruijff Version 3.0 : Pep Guardiola Version 4.0 : Xavi Hernandez Total football brought to FC Barcelona from Ajax by Rinus Michels who helped build LaMasia used by Johan Cruijff who won Barça their first UCL with Pep Guardiola as the brain of the team who then gave the football world the best team ever with Xavi Hernandez as the maestro who is now perpetuating the tradition, the philosophy, the Barça identity. Version 5.0 : ...
2008 Spain...shocked everyone... seriously!!....they were the outstanding/overwhelming favourites for the world cup....they didn't surprise anyone except people who were either very young ..or not really interested in football..
Man,It’s high time you make a video on Karim Benzema.I have been watching football for many years and in my opinion his career has been the most fascinating one .It has ups and downs,drama,glory etc .It has everything you need to make a blockbuster movie .Will love to see your thoughts on his career 😇
Xavi would have certainly won two or three Ballon Dors had he not been born into the same era as LM10 and CR7. That's how good he was as a player. And judging from how Barcelona is doing under his coaching, he might be just as good as a coach.
Who’s your greatest midfielder of all time? 👀 Let me know what vid you want next and leave a like if you enjoyed, really helps ❤️
It’s hard for me to choose Scholes or Giggs over Iniesta!
@@Donatello777 I preferred Iniesta over Xavi, but they were both midfield GOATs with very different playstyles. If you ask who was more important it’s impossible, but together theyre the greatest midfield duo of all time
If it's about midfielders then it's always Xavi for me. He moulded Barca. Even though he wasn't fastest or the deadliest in scoring what he had was unmatchable. Pure brilliance and the biggest brain on the pitch. If the question was for who's the smartest player then it surely would hv been Xavi for sure.
For me it is Xavi no doubt his playmaking, vision and dribbling was so beautiful to watch and so simple to do yet he made history with it! I am so glad he is back helping Barca especially as a fan, it is soo good to see this once average squad to become great again slowly.
Xavi is a genius 💙❤
Xavi modric iniestsa and zidane are my top midfielders
Modric or xavi maybe
Nah I can't pick
People seriously overlook Xavi when talking about how good he is..
Zidane and Iniesta are always held at higher regard than Xavi for some reason…when in fact he has a good argument to be better than both of them..
“Xavi is the Greatest Spanish Footballer of All Time”
- Lionel Messi
I personally prefer Iniesta tbh, but they both had different roles as midfielders. But the two of them combined? Best Midfield duo of all time IMO
Iniesta and Zidane had more flair .. i guess thats the reason why
@@RaymarFootball well platini is better than all of them
@@midfielderlounge2592 stop the cap
@@midfielderlounge2592 hell no bro
"Unlike Xavi, They might not be trying to *assist* you"
Give this man a medal
Adverti s’Or 🥇🏆
Best sponsorship clips creator Raymar😂
Top 10 ad transition of all time
@@RaymarFootball That was a bar
Hahahahah
Xavi Hernandez 08/09 season
Match played- 52
Goals- 11
Assist- 32
Total g/a = 43 that is absurd as a pivot man the best season a midfielder could have the absolute pinnacle and i literally don't want to bring the trophy thing here
He is the one changed the game as people used to thing only physical midfielder will work in modern football and what he did he control the game like no other ever did not even legendary Johan cryuff his passing was the best even Micheal laudrap would have proud of
He is by far the the most influential midfielder of all time along with Zidane
Definitely one of the best player of all time
Football's very own puppet master
Stats dont count-according to Raymar
@@dinisfonseca6305 forget about stat he is still the greatest according to me
@@midfielderlounge2592 yes and i agree with you but i disagree with Raymar because stats have to count
@@dinisfonseca6305 see when you are talking about greats like Xavi Iniesta Zidane Platini laudrap lothar matthaus stat doesn't matter everytime you see Lampard has better stat than all of those legend so according to stat he should be better than all of them right but he is not
I think he actually means stats go way further than just goals/assists. For instance Ronaldo has about 60%-70% of the assists Messi has, but anyone that has watched both of them perform over the last 15 years knows that Messi exerts so much more influence on a match and creates wayyyyyy more. Andres has pretty mediocre assist stats, but he often gave the before-assist, passing to the guy who would end up assiting (wide men, full backs).
Football is a simple game, but playing simple football is the hardest thing there is.
-Johan Cruyff
Xavi probably the GOAT at pure, simple football tbh
@@RaymarFootball true, its also really interesting how much influence Cruyff and his visions for the club had till this day.
@@RaymarFootball even Johan cryuff used to do those sick skills and so does Messi Iniesta laudrap busi
@@RaymarFootball he was the definition of simple football
@@RaymarFootball at pure and simple football ain't no one beating Messi tbh, natural talent as it's finest
How good was Xavi?!...Well let's just say Barcelona have never won a major European trophy ever since he left them in 2015.
xavi wasn’t a starter in 2015, but ur point still stands
Well put..
@@FlyingNimbus wait till Barca go from europa league to winning champions league under Xavi.
@@FlyingNimbus it's Setien, koeman and departure of Messi that led the club to Europa league, not Xavi
@@FlyingNimbus it’s a trophy they’ve never won before, so it will have a warm welcome in barcas trophy cabinet( if they win it)
Best comment i read somewhere about xavi is" if you are playing with xavi, you don't have to worry about offside cause xavi will calculate it for you!"
Xavi & iniesta is the best midfield duo ever. Getting the ball off iniesta is is arguably still known as the hardest thing ever in football. That together with messi and xavi is just unfair
but if you are the el pistolero your teeth will still be offside.
The man is footballs accountant 😂
Yesss I see that
In my opinion as a Real Madrid fan. Xavi should be remembered not as one of the greatest midfielders, but rather... One of the greatest players in history. He made simple football look so beautiful, he had the IQ that could rival the finest in the sport, the very embodiment of the Tika taka style of football that made Barcelona a dominant side and the greatest club team ever, and the pivotal figure of one of the greatest national sides in history. Xavi is without a doubt Spain's greatest ever played. Even as a Real fan, how could I not want this guy to succeed at Barcelona? He will bring Barcelona to the glory days again, because he is just a masterpiece of a figure in the beautiful game.
much love from a barca fan for this comment... united in the love for this game an glorious players
Wow as a barca fan I appreciate that man! Hope real gets back to their peak too to see some awesome el classicos! Enjoy the sport the good way❤️
I miss Spain having two best clubs :( miss old barac and real lol
BIG RESPECT!...from a Barca fan
And please ffs MOdric isn't on the same level. Tell that to every madrid fans on your behalf.
Xavi in my opinion definitely has a case for being the greatest midfielder and passers of all time.
@NMA 55 NIDHIN JOBI have u seen matthaus play??
Probably just 2nd best to zidane to being the best midfielder , as for the best passer its probably just him or pirlo
@@aadas281 zidane best midfielder?🤢 pass the shit bro
@@aadas281 really zidane?? He is overhyped and too much overrated , xavi is the best ever midfielder.
Even if you hate him, can’t put him anywhere below top 5 all time. Maybe not even below top 3
Whenever someone mentions Xavi I think of Iniesta and vice versa. Individually they were one of the best to grace this sport. Together, they were the best midfield duo there ever was.
yes and iniesta is one of his longest co players according ro raymar
My words....
Iniesta, Xavi, Messi.....it was the best football to watch!
@@symphonyfarm2009 man as well as ronaldinho, neymar, and suarez
Add busquets, those trio sure barca and spanish monsters
Xavi deserves to be spoken about when talking about footballs greatest. He inspires me to be a better player and I don’t even play much. He was truly a once in a lifetime player to watch. An unmatched midfielder even today. Xavi was and will remain the G.O.A.T midfielder in my eyes
He’s always 10 steps ahead which you can’t find much in many playmakers in today’s football
Xavi almost never lost the ball when he had it. First time i noticed him was 2004 against AC Milan away game. Barca lost 1-0 but i was impressed by how he kept the ball and his passing and vision.
I never realized how good Xavi was at keeping the ball under pressure. And those ridiculous flicks when someone was ontop of him just crazy. Definitely had eagle eyes 🦅👁️.
Xavi was our (Barca) saviour as player, and on his way in being one as a coach!!
Being a Madridista, I have immense respect for this man. He is a pure legend. ❤
We'll never have another era when we can watch for several years a team with players like Xavi, Iniesta, Alves and Messi take on another squad with Benzema, Kroos, Ronaldo and Modric. I really miss it.
this man literally knows how it feels like when a golden era finishes and u are barely able to qualify for next season's cl, its like history repeating itself
He’s been with them before they were good! And he’s bringing the winning culture back!
@@RaymarFootball exactly
@@RaymarFootball exactly that era after dream team was not good at all
He’s an elite manager which shouldn’t surprise anyone.
True! But not all great players can make great managers. Xavi was mentored by Pep and learned a lot from him. And Xavi’s genius comes from him understanding the game 👀 🤝
I can't control my happiness under Xavi
In Xavi we trust
Visca Barca 💙❤
Love from India 🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳
🇮🇳🤝 much love to India bro!
We Indians wait up until 1.30 in the night to watch Xavi's Barca score 4 goals with ease lately.... Man's a GENIUS
@@nisargabarkule that's what Asian football fans do
1:30 every week in love for Barca
@@nisargabarkule yess bro even I am having exams but still I wait for Xavi4ball
If you say pele God of football. Then the God of simple football is 100% xavi. A genius once said - playing football is simple. But playing simple football is the hardest thing to do. And thanks to raymour RUclips channel for remembering the guy who saved Barcelona.
That genius was Johan Cruyff! RIP 🙏
Thanks for telling bro. 😂😂
@@RaymarFootball FC Barcelona greatest club in history
@@ViscaBarca14 perhaps
@@ViscaBarca14 real Madrid is the greatest club in history
Real Madrid fan here but can't help but respect the midfield maestro, he is a blessing for Barcelona
2008 Spain winning wasn't a surprise at all they the heavy favourites I still remember before the tournament started being a small kid discussing with my cousins the depth of that squad with likes Torres , villa , fabregas , Xavi , iniesta , puyol , casilas , David Silva and everyone was predicting Spain to win
Spain were favorites for a lot of tournaments but were well known as being "also rans" who would always show glimpses of greatness but lose out to the bigger nations like Italy, Germany, Argentina, Brazil, and France. So it was a surprise because they had that "they have the talent but never put it together" vibe.
They were not. Aragones had nearly been kicked out of the team as coach.
@@jbo4547 they were like a netherlands in another words
Spanish 1994 squad has more dept and talent
Raymar you just have to follow this up with a video on Inesta I swear those two had a twin telephatic relationship.
I moved to Tokyo a few months ago, and I plan on watching him play in April! I think it might be his last season. Man is still scoring goals out here!!
For me, he’s always been the greatest midfielder of all time.
Hope Xavi make Barcelona great again, we are seeing some signs, let it be consistent
Amin
Xavi is indeed a Barça god. Not just a legend. He had to work, really really hard, his way up the fans' hearts to having that status now. A true inspiration.
Raymaaar! :D
Xavi was just majestic. I'm so happy I got to watch him, Iniesta and Busi play teams to shreds. Dude had a football IQ that is damned near unrivalled. So happy to see him at the helm, coaching the likes of Pedri, Gavi and Nico. They'll benefit a ton from having the god of passing himself, guiding them.
Edit: Would love to see a video on David Beckham! I don't believe you've covered him yet ;)
Thanks for the video, Raymar!
They’re young and full of talent and if they work hard, could revive Spain as an international powerhouse 👀
And yeah I definitely need to do one on him!
I'm a die hard Réal Madrid fan, but, this Guy was truly a masterpiece as a footballer. Him and that wizard called Iniesta gave me so many sleepless nights
To me he's Robert Downey Jr on the pitch
Verified person not commented on
Why is he rdj?
Yank detected
@@seanandrews5329 the resemblance between them. Put a mustache and goatee on his face and u will see it.
Yes they indeed look very similar, but Xavi face looks more spanish, but they have still 15 years age diffrence.
When it's all said and done Xavi will end up as a top 3 Midfielder and top 3 Manager of all time!
Top 3 manager is soooooo difficult to achieve for him.
Not necessarily top 3 managers, but top 10 for sure.
@@sohailshaikh6226 not just him, it's hard for any new manager to achieve that
@@sohailshaikh6226 I would say being top 3 Midfielders ever is even more tough.......yet he did that so I'm not one to doubt Xavi!
He won’t be better than either saf pep guardiola or mourinho
I get chills just to hear this man talking, such a great storyteller.
Please do Paul Scholes next!
i mean the fact that in fifa in one point he was the same rating as ronaldo and 1 off messi is pretty amazing and if those 2 never existed then he wouldve won ballon dors and been remembered a lot more fondly
One of the most expensive players on Ultimate Team too 😂 but I liked to make my teams filled with pace and just press lmao
The way he brought up Nord VPN into conversation,Savage😂
lmaooo VPNs really useful tho 👀😏
I've always thought Xavi is the best midfielder of all time and I fell in love with football because of the Barcelona team from 04-14. great video
It’s not only xavi and iniesta
Busquets also had a great influence in the tiki taka era
Also a one gernerational player alongside xavi,iniesta,messi
Raymar I really like the fact that you take the time to reply to most of the comments on your channel given the size of your audience, and not in a scripted way but you're literally just chillin and being genuine.
When you said Xavi Hernandez I was confused on who you talking about never realized it was that Barca legend
this channel is so under-rated this guy speaks nothing but truth and even if he likes a rival player he sill gives the other guy the respect he deserves great job I will definitely keep watching
Thanks Sam! Appreciate the kind words
Above all, Xavi was highly competitive, and when it came down to when it mattered most, he always delivered
Wow!, watching your videos about the players I watched growing up literally gives me goosebumps. Missing those football years soso much
Realistically xavi iniesta and busquets are the absolute pinnacle of any midfield in history. There’s no other midfield in history that can control the pace of the game, retain the ball, or make the players around them better than these 3.
A true pleasure to of been able to watch them.
I'm still wondering how Bayern battered them in 2013? I couldn't believe my eyes. Had they become complacent? Too dependent on Messi? I might need to watch that match again. It hurt too much the 1st time those two legs
speak for yourself, don't speak for everyone . You can be a football fan and consider other midfield partners better than them
@@ayazniazi3476 objectively there's no other better grouping not even close
@@seetsamolapo5600 "you must agree to what I'm saying else you're a liar". Dude, your Barca cult can have your own image of what pinnacle football looks like while others can have a separate image of what pinnacle football looks like. It may be superior to you but not to me. Don't try to superimpose your crap on others lol
@@ayazniazi3476 I'm not superimposing anything. Are you the the type of person who believes in multiple truths? Let's look at objective measures. Facts don't care about feelings.
That ad integration was very very smooth
He was critical part of the team when he was a player, he really deserved a Balon de Oro, or Iniesta as well. Both of them were amazing.
Fuck the ballon dor, when it was given to messi in 2010 over iniesta
That’s all you need to know
Who’s here where Xavi just outclassed Madrid with a 4-0 win
''xavi and spain showed the world the beauty and terror of playing simple football'' this sentence gave me goospumps
He made those surrounding him better than they could dream to be ❤, most intelligent footballer of all time
I hope Pedri could follow his footsteps. At such young age he already be a vital part of the team.
At 9:05 where you said "and thus history was made , and the infamous tiki taka playstyle was born" i literally cried the shit outa my eyes for the rest of the video. Today's generation of football owes so much to that version of Barcelona.
After last night's el Clasico now i can say XAVI is one of the best manager in the world right now
😂
Winning elclasico doesn't make u one of the greatest managers 🤣🤣
Winning trophies matters
This momentum is giving me 2009 vibes. Xavi bring back Barca back that Madrid rivalry. Both want to be on top and tomorrows Classico is going to be a small preview. As a Madrid fan, I knew this time was coming where Xavi was going to come back and lift up Barca. Back in 2009, I was 13 and I remember hating that whole Barca squad because they were so unbeatable. Now Xavi back is giving me flashbacks lol. Mbappe to the rescue I suppose
20 years or so We will see one of these for Pedri. He is so good
Personally I think he's the best midfielder of all time. I don't mean that to disrespect any other legend before him
I think it's cruyff or Maradona
Zidane deserves a shout
For me it's between Zidane and xavi as the 1 & 2 greatest Midfielders of all time ,people say Iniesta was better than xavi because of Iniesta's dribbling ,but those who understand football know the importance of xavi and his performances in the biggest games , he had an assist in WC semi finals,assist in 2 euro finals, assist in 2 UCL finals ,and if you want stats go check his 08/09 season stats
All 3 had incredibly different roles! Hard to say tbh depending on what your team needed and what formation, but as a pure CM, I’m putting Xavi there.
@@RaymarFootball true my top 10 Greatest Midfielders Of All time
1. ZIDANE
2. Xavi
3.Iniesta
4.Modric
5.Pirlo
6.Lothar Matthaus
7.Zico
8.Seedorf
9. Makelele
10. Scholes
Let me remind you if you are forgetting there was man name Diego Maradona who played in midfield too but in attacking midfield.
I have not seen him play live but from what I have seen of him and heard from the ones who watched him is that he could play football really well.
@@andreanderson4360 matthaus must be higher at least top 5 imo
@@andreanderson4360 Modric over Pirlo, Matthaus and Zico? He is one of the most overrated players of all time. Zico was the best footballer in the world from 1979 to 1982, and kept his consistency in 1983 and 1984 too.
One of THE most smoothest sponsor transitions ever. You gotta rate it
One of 5 best midfielders of all time, probably even in top 3. Amazing player.
i love how iniesta and xavi praised eachother, basically saying eachother we’re flawless, like xavi saying if he was struggling he’d just pass to iniesta
Best football documentary channel in RUclips✨✨🔝
Literally I can watch any video of your channel again and again without getting bored 🤯
much love 💜
This was a beautiful video essay, man! I used to watch football, especially international football, as a child during the early 2000s & started watching properly after 2012. I started following Barcelona because of Messi but then I understood the legacy of the club & the magical duo of Xavi & Iniesta. This video portrays everything....great job!
I remember that I loved to watch him as a kid, cause he could outplay up to six people with a single pass.
this is so true
Love these “how good were they really?” vids. Your voiceover work and writing are flawless. You should do one on Francesco Totti at some point.
appreciate the kind words 🙏 And I definitely will!
Now a godly manager making glory for a godly team in the making
Thank you for making this awesome video, it was the video I requested on your last video. Love your commentary and deep analysis plus the clips!
People who put Modric above Xavi and Iniesta never saw those 2 play in their primes
Correct, people forget how Xavi basically started the entire charade of getting the team to surround and bully referees, taught pique how to complain about literally everything, and acted with less class than a drunk who was just denied by a woman at a bar after a loss. Modric is clear on multiple levels, Iniesta on the other hand was superior to Xavi and played the game the right way as well as being a likeable and respectable person off the pitch.
@@xjimmemakesmusicx casual
I love Modric but still think he shouldn’t have won the 2018 ballon dor. I mean Iniesta achieved the same and more as modric in 2010 and he got 2nd place. Xavi played a lot differently from Modric so it’s hard to compare, but one thing for sure, Xavi & Iniesta untouchable as a midfield duo!
@@archiegabiazon barca delusionist. Modric is a better player. Not deserving kf his balon d’or, but if he was born in a country like Spain, Italy, France… he’d have had a much different international career. At club level anyone who denies how great he has been is blind. Iniesta is much more similar to modric but modric was a far better defender. Really a direct comparison between Modric, Xavi, or Iniesta isn’t ideal as modric is more of a combination of the two of them. I’ll gladly be a “casual” remembering that scumbag move Xavi pulled putting a barca kit on fabregas and distracting from his countries triumph. Or his countless whining to the media and interjecting on everything. Great footballer, but id much rather have modric or hell, maybe even Xabi Alonso.
@@xjimmemakesmusicx
So we're talking about defensive abilities rn? In Xavi's prime he can occassionally play the CDM role providing a bridge between the back 4 and the midfield. Something modric cannot even do. Take away modric in Real and what will career achievements be?
I was waiting for another of your videos yesterday and now you upload one of Xavi, great service.
took a lil longer to make! Glad you enjoyed bro!
The heart of the greatest team of all time.
Your transition to advertisements is smoother than Xavi’s long ball pass.
Just remember Spain at one point, I think the 2012 euro final starting 11 had no strikers and no wingers it was just a defence and a midfield, they completely dominated Italy
Xavi--1 of the 🐐 for sure! Love how you said that little thing about your government "assisting" you. Great job keeping it real and delivering facts..Respect
13:27 Pedri
Xavi is a genious, probably the highest IQ in football. For me is probably one of the greatests of all time. Doesnt surprise me that he is also a good coach.
That transition to nordvpn ad was the smoothest thing ever!!
😎 thank my g, use em if you need one! then just cancel and get the month for free 🤫
Xavi was a master, really miss seeing him play.
His passing was incredible. The Tiki-taka style played by Barcelona then seems to have been centred around Xavi. He rarely lost possession! In my opinion he was one of the best Midfielders in History.
He is the perfect coach because even as a player he wasnt relying on his physical capabilities but rather on his understanding of football.
Ofcourse his passing and dribbles were amazing but he wasnt the fastest and he didnt have the best shooting. He also wasnt that strong.
He played with his mind and that understanding of football is extremely rare.
With his knowledge he can actually teach a team how to play good football even if they are not super special players although that does help alot.
Unlike koeman who was a great player his understanding of football just is not good enough which is very normal and he did give his best for barça.
I always felt that players like xavi would be the best coaches because of their understanding of football.
bery true!!!
Knowing where to stand and what to do while on the pitch is an extremely important skill. Xavi was the best at this. It is not easy teaching a player how to do it.
From coaching perspective his PRECISION is off the charts. ~90% passing, and 2+ assists in consecutive European finals speaks for itself. From a free #8!
His body position and ability to "play from a spot" are textbook. Watch how often he stops the ball dead, scans, and waits LONGER THAN you think reasonable/safe before 1) delivery of buttery pass of Spanish quality 2) Body position/minimal skill to slip 1st defender 3) NEVER lose the ball via bad pass, force the defense to come and take it.
Players like him are adored. The closest that comes to mind for me is Moussa Dembele (Tottenham Hotspur) paired with Christian Eriksen during the Pochettino days. With two scary fullbacks (Prime Danny Rose and Kyle Walker) he could carry the ball box to box, provide the penultimate pass for Eriksen who get's to be Iniesta.
The primary overlap between the two is body position and emphasis on maintenance of possession above all else. Though they did it in very different ways, in very different systems.
tl:dr - Goat. Intricate possession systems fall apart without passing productivity like his. And his best passes are often hockey assists, not the stat fillers. He stepped up in BIG games from his debut til retirement. Free #8 with >80% passing is great. His was 90%+ in the champions league multiple times.
Kroos and Modric are amazing.
But neither of them hold a candle to this man.
Liverpool can learn from this video but any I am a Liverpool fan and I wish my club can solve is midfield problem after the 3-0 lost.
I’ve always said Xavi was the greatest midfielder of that generation. Made everything look effortless, could play in the tightest spaces, never lost the ball, dictated games, insane passing
He is a master, a craftsman.. he knows his deal.. the fan, the captain, the coach, the flag bearer, the legend.. he will take this team to new heights
Everyone be like tiki taka was only possible for Xavi and Iniesta but in the corner there lies another superhuman talent named Sergio Busquests go his still and this very age the main controler of FCB's game .. he is also very very underrated
i usually skip ads but this time i didnt. What a segway
I’m here after watching Barcelona beat Real 4-0. Looki
Raymar Football and HITC Sevens are the kings of RUclips football.
I'm here after he just demolished Real at the Bernabeu as a manager..
Great video. And shout out to AS Comps too. Great to see u give the guy a mention. His content is incredible too.
Man beat Madrid 4-0 in just 5 months
134 days
13:17 Raymar and AsComps... Two of the best RUclips football channels
For me he's the best central midfielder in history. And also it would be an injustice to not make a video on his partner in crime Iniesta.
Btw fantastic video.
I definitely have to! Iniesta isn't done yet and is still scoring though haha
Simply one of the best footballers ever, regardless of position. He made everything happen at one of the best teams ever to play the game. A mastermind who never gave the ball away, never made bad passes pretty much ever. Himself, Iniesta and Busquets all played together, along with Messi who played everywhere in the midfield and attack - a unique force of football at the time, and Xavi was the conductor. It won't be repeated.
Hey Raymar, a video on Diego forlan?
The best middle player I ever seen, he 100% control the middle. He is the engine of the team. I always enjoyed watching him play.
And wouldn’t you know it we beat real madrid in santiago bernabeu 4-0 all thanks to xavi ❤️💙❤️💙
This xavi guy seems pretty good a football
The next video should be about Iniesta for sure.
These sponsor transitions are goated.
Version 1.0 : Rinus Michels
Version 2.0 : Johan Cruijff
Version 3.0 : Pep Guardiola
Version 4.0 : Xavi Hernandez
Total football brought to FC Barcelona from Ajax by Rinus Michels who helped build LaMasia used by Johan Cruijff who won Barça their first UCL with Pep Guardiola as the brain of the team who then gave the football world the best team ever with Xavi Hernandez as the maestro who is now perpetuating the tradition, the philosophy, the Barça identity.
Version 5.0 : ...
Well explained
Version 5.0 might be Iniesta
version 6.0 probably will be messi@@lexkanyima2195
2008 Spain...shocked everyone... seriously!!....they were the outstanding/overwhelming favourites for the world cup....they didn't surprise anyone except people who were either very young ..or not really interested in football..
Man,It’s high time you make a video on Karim Benzema.I have been watching football for many years and in my opinion his career has been the most fascinating one .It has ups and downs,drama,glory etc .It has everything you need to make a blockbuster movie .Will love to see your thoughts on his career 😇
thanks for being so consistent with videos
Just beat real 4-0 , Xavi is 95% responsible for this turn around
Xavi had one of the best footballing brain's we have seen. He was always several moves ahead.
Xavi would have certainly won two or three Ballon Dors had he not been born into the same era as LM10 and CR7. That's how good he was as a player. And judging from how Barcelona is doing under his coaching, he might be just as good as a coach.