Xavi Hernandez - a legend of world football, a Spanish player who became one of the most influential and technically gifted players of his generation. He was born on January 25, 1980, in Terrassa, Spain, and displayed his football talent from a young age. Xavi became renowned for his outstanding passing skills and ball control. He possessed a unique ability to control the game on the field, distribute passes, and create attacks for his team.
He began his professional career in 1998, joining the youth team of Barcelona. Over time, he became an integral part of Barcelona's main squad and a product of the legendary La Masia academy. He spent 17 years at FC Barcelona, eventually becoming its captain and one of the main inspirations behind the "tiki-taka" style of play.
Xavi helped Barcelona win numerous domestic and international trophies, including 8 La Liga titles and 4 UEFA Champions League titles. He became the heart and soul of the team, and his on-field leadership was invaluable to Barcelona's success during that period. Xavi is also a key figure for the Spanish national team. With the national squad, he won the FIFA World Cup in 2010 and the UEFA European Championship in 2008 and 2012.
His intellectual approach to the game and his ability to create opportunities for his teammates made him an irreplaceable player for the national team. After leaving Barcelona in 2015, Xavi moved to Qatari club Al-Sadd, where he continued to showcase his skills and leadership. He helped the team win several national titles and became a symbol of football development in Qatar.
In addition to his playing career, Xavi has shown an interest in coaching. He has completed coaching courses and expressed a desire to one day manage his former team, Barcelona. Xavi Hernandez is not only a player of exceptional class but also a symbol of virtuosity, game reading ability, and leadership on the field. His style and contribution to world football will be remembered by generations of fans.
Spanish football club Barcelona have confirmed that their star player Gavi suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear and will undergo surgery, which rules him out of competitive football for at least seven to nine months.
Gavi suffered the injury during his national team's Euro qualifier match against Georgia on Sunday (Nov 19). The teenager was forced off the field in tears and it quickly became evident that he had suffered some serious damage.
“Tests carried out on Monday morning on the first team player Gavi have shown that he has a complete tear of the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and an associated injury to the lateral meniscus," Barcelona said in a statement.
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«The player will have surgery in the coming days after which a new medical update will be released.”
The injury means that Gavi will miss the rest of the La Liga season as well as the Champions League campaign for the Catalan side. As for the national team, it looks highly unlikely that he will be available for Euro 2024, scheduled to take place in Germany in June 2024.
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Massive blow for Spain and BarcelonaThe injury is a massive blow as Gavi, despite being a teenager, had become a central part of both Barcelona and Spain. Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez has described the boy wonder as the “heart and soul” due to his tenacity and desire for the game.
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente, however, has come under heavy scrutiny from the fans for playing Gavi in a dead-rubber where most of the starters had been given a rest.
Speaking after the match, De la Fuente said the dressing room wore the look of a funeral.
“The dressing room is