🏆 The 25 greatest players of the last 25 years: The Puppet Master in 6th

Welcome to OneFootball's definitive ranking of the 25 greatest players of the last 25 years.

Over the course of 25 days, we will be counting down our top 25 men's footballers of the 21st century so far, before revealing the winner on 1st January 2025.

Check out the list so far here

Today, our countdown continues with...

6th: Xavi Hernández (570 points)

• Nationality: Spanish (133 caps, 13 goals)

• Main clubs: Barcelona

• Major trophies won: LaLiga (x8), Champions League (x4), UEFA Super Cup (x2), Club World Cup (x2), World Cup (x1), European Championship (x2)

• Major individual awards: European Championship Player of the Tournament (x1), European Championship All Star (x2), FIFA All Star XI (x6)

• Highest ranking among voters: 2nd (two votes)

Known for his passing accuracy, vision and control of the pace of the game, Xavi will always be remembered as one of the best midfielders of his generation.

His career began at Barcelona, where he ​​made his debut in 1998 and became a mainstay of the team under Frank Rijkaard and later Pep Guardiola, winning numerous titles, including four Champions Leagues and eight La Liga titles.

With the Spanish national team, Xavi also had a significant impact and was an integral part of the team that won Euro 2008, the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012, standing out for his ability to manage the game from midfield, cementing his status as one of the most influential players in the history of Spanish football.

Fun fact

📸 Denis Doyle - 2011 Getty Images

Xavi has a black belt in judo, which reflects his interest in martial arts and dedication to staying fit and disciplined off the field.

Watch him in action

How we voted

Thirty-eight members of OneFootball's global editorial team ranked their top 25 players of the 21st century so far. Players ranked at #1 earned 25 points, second place earned 24 points, and so on. In the event of a tie, the player with the highest individual ranking was placed higher on the list.

📸 David Ramos - 2013 Getty Images