Iniesta’s Latest Milestone: Reaches 1,000 Professional Matches
Spanish football legend Andrés Iniesta achieved a remarkable milestone on Saturday, playing his 1,000th professional match. The iconic midfielder reached this significant number while competing for his current team, Emirates FC, in a match against a local side in Ajman, United Arab Emirates. Iniesta, who will turn 40 on May 11, marked his twelfth appearance with the Emirati club since joining from Japan last summer.
In addition to his 12 matches with Emirates FC, Iniesta’s illustrious career includes 723 appearances with FC Barcelona (49 with Barça B and 674 with the first team), 131 caps for the Spanish national team, and 134 matches with Vissel Kobe. Across these 1,000 games, Iniesta has scored 104 goals, provided 192 assists, and celebrated 38 titles, including 1 World Cup, 2 European Championships, 4 Champions League trophies, and 10 domestic league titles. Remarkably, he has never received a red card in any of these 1,000 matches. Iniesta expressed his gratitude, stating, “When I played in the fields of Fuentealbilla or Albacete, my dream was to be a footballer, but I could never have imagined enjoying such a long and beautiful career.
