Spain

Alfredo Stéfano Di Stéfano Laulhé (4 July 1926 - 7 July 2014) was an Argentine-born professional footballer and coach who played as a forward, regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time. Nicknamed "Saeta Rubin" ("Blond Arrow"), he is best known for his achievements with Real Madrid, where he was instrumental in the club's domination of the European Cup and La Liga during the 1950s. Along with Francisco Gento and José María Zárraga, he was one of only three players to play a part in all five victories, scoring goals in each of the five finals. Di Stéfano played international football mostly for Spain after moving to Madrid, but he also played for Argentina and Colombia.

Andrés Iniesta Luján is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder and Considered one of the greatest midfielders of all time, Iniesta has spent most of his career at Barcelona, where he served as the captain for three seasons.Iniesta came through La Masia, the Barcelona youth academy, after an early migration from his birthplace, and impressed from an early age. He made his first-team debut aged 18 in 2002. He began playing regularly during the 2004-05 season and remained in the team until 2018. Iniesta was an integral part of the Barcelona sides that won two historic trebles in 2009 and 2015, and his 35 trophies, which includes nine La Ligas and four UEFA Champions League titles, make him the most decorated Spanish footballer of all time.

Iker Casillas Fernández is a Spanish retired professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. Popularly dubbed "San Iker" ("Saint Iker") for his ability to produce spectacular saves, Casillas is widely considered to be one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time. He is known for his athleticism, quick reactions and outstanding shot-stopping ability. Having spent the majority of his career at Real Madrid, Casillas is one of the few players to achieve over 1000 professional career matches, and holds the record for the most clean sheets in the UEFA Champions League, as well as for the Spain national team.

Xavier Hernández Creus , known as Xavi, is a Spanish professional football manager and former player who is the manager of La Liga club Barcelona. Widely considered one of the greatest midfielders of all time, Xavi was renowned for his passing, vision, ball retention, and positioning.

Xavi joined La Masia, the Barcelona youth academy, at age 11, and made his first-team debut against Mallorca in August 1998. In all, he played 767 official matches, a former club record-now held by Lionel Messi-and scored 85 goals. Xavi is the first player in the club's history to play 150 European and FIFA Club World Cup matches combined. With Barcelona, Xavi won eight La Liga titles and four UEFA Champions League titles. Xavi came third in the 2009 FIFA World Player of the Year, followed by third place for its successor award, the FIFA Ballon d'Or, in 2010 and 2011. In 2011, he was runner up to Messi for the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award. In 2015, he departed Barcelona for Al Sadd, where he won four trophies before retiring in 2019. He is one of the few recorded players to have made over 1,000 professional career appearances.

Following retirement, it was announced in May 2019 that Xavi would take over as manger of Al Sadd on a two-year contract. Over the course of the 97 days he was in charge, spanning two and a half years, Xavi led the club to win 7 trophies, including the coveted Qatar Cup in the Qatar Stars League. In November 2021, it was announced Xavi would return to his former club Barcelona as the new manager replacing Ronald Koeman, on contract until June 2024. At the time, the club was struggling both competitively and economically. However, after a difficult first few months, Xavi revitalized the club and turned around Barcelona's form with the implementation of structure and new guidelines, while also playing a vital role in the signing of new players to strengthen the squad. When Xavi first took charge, the club was in ninth position in LaLiga, but by the end of the 2021-22 season, he led Barcelona to a second-placed finish.

Xavi continued to succeed in his role as manager during the 2022 summer transfer window by orchestrating the signing of world-renowned footballers, such as Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, Jules Koundé, Andreas Christensen, and Franck Kessié. In January 2023, Barcelona won their first title under Xavi, following a 3-1 victory against Real Madrid in the Supercopa de España Final. Xavi would go on to win the 2022-23 LaLiga with Barcelona after amassing an astonishing 88 points in 33 games, sitting 13 points above second-placed Atlético Madrid. Xavi is now regarded by many as a hero within the club for taking charge when Barcelona was arguably at one of the club's lowest points and quickly achieving extraordinary success as a manger in a short period of time.

Carles Puyol Saforcada is a Spanish former professional footballer who played his entire career for Barcelona. He mainly played as a central defender, but he could also play in either full-back position, mostly as a right-back. Praised for his defensive qualities and leadership, he is widely regarded as one of the best defenders and captains of all time.

He was Barcelona's captain from August 2004 until his retirement in 2014, and appeared in 593 competitive matches for the club. He won 18 major club titles, including six La Liga trophies and three Champions Leagues.

Puyol won 100 caps for Spain, and was part of the squads that won Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup. In the 2010 World Cup semi-final, he scored the only goal of the game against Germany.

Sergio Ramos García is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a center-back for Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain and the Spain national team. Known for his aggressive play, ball retrieval ability and prolific goal-scoring abilities, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest defenders of all time, having formerly played for Real Madrid for sixteen seasons, winning four UEFA Champions League titles with the Spanish giants along with two UEFA European Championship titles and the 2010 FIFA World Cup with the national team.

Xabi Alonso was born on 25 November 1981 in Tolosa, Guipúzcoa, País Vasco, Spain. He is an actor, known for Birmingham City vs Liverpool FC (2005), LaLiga (1929) and CSKA Moscow vs Bayern Munich (2014). He has been married to Nagore Aranburu since 11 July 2009. They have three children.

Cesc Fàbregas was born on 4 May 1987 in Vilassar de Mar, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. He is an actor, known for Goal II: Living the Dream (2007), Torrente 4: Lethal Crisis (2011) and Nike: Take It to the Next Level (2008). He has been married to Daniella Semaan since May 2018. They have three children.

Fernando Ruiz Hierro is a Spanish football manager and former player who played as a center-back, sweeper or defensive midfielder.

He won five La Liga and three Champions League trophies with Real Madrid in 14 years after signing from Valladolid, during which he appeared in 601 official matches. He also competed professionally in Qatar and England.

Hierro represented Spain on nearly 90 occasions, appearing in four World Cups and two European Championships. He started working as a manager in 2016 with Oviedo, being appointed at the helm of the national team two years later.

Fernando is a life-long Athlético Madrid fan, born in working class Fuenlabrada to Flori and José. He has an older brother called Israel and an older sister called Mari Paz. He inherited his passion for Athlético from his grandfather. His first football team was Parque Four, which he joined as a fresh and innocent five year old, and his second team was called Mario's Holland, a neighborhood club which he joined when he was just seven years old. Then, aged ten, he joined a club called Rayo 13, for which he scored 55 times in a single season. He was one of the three players to earn a trial for Athlético Madrid; he joined the club, still aged just eleven, in 1995. During his debut season for the senior team, Fernando broke his leg, but still went on to play as part of the Spain Under-16s which won the Algarve Tournament in 2001. His first team debut for Athlético was on the 27th of May of that year against Leganés, and a week later he scored his first goal against Albacete. In 2003, Fernando was honored with being made the youngest ever captain of Athlético, at just 19 years of age. In the 2006 World Cup, Fernando scored the final goal against Ukraine, and fired two past Tunisia before making his hat trick by converting a penalty in the 90th minute. Back home in Spain, speculation was surrounding his transfer status. In total, Fernando scored 82 goals in 214 appearances for Athlético, and it was a huge wrench, after giving countless other big clubs the cold shoulder because they just weren't his beloved Athlético, to finally move to Liverpool for a confirmed £20m. He hated leaving his family and friends, and could speak hardly any English, but scored within 15 minutes of his debut game against Chelsea and things just got better and better for the player the Athlético fans had affectionately dubbed 'El Niño'. He has since become the first ever Liverpool player to score seven times in seven consecutive games in the Premier League at Anfield, and has scored, so far, a total of 30 goals in his debut season for the club. The Liverpool fans have a special chant, with which they only honor a few players, and they have put Fernando's name where they once put Anfield legends Kenny Dalglish and Robbie Fowler's. Fernando has been hailed as the best striker in the world, and looking at his unbelievable record, it's not difficult to see why.

Sergio Busquets was born on 16 July 1988 in Sabadell, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.

David Villa was born on 3 December 1981 in Langreo, Asturias, Spain. He is an actor, known for La Liga Season (2010), Fast Vs. Fast (2010) and LaLiga (1929). He has been married to Patricia González since 2003. They have three children.

Fernando Morientes is known for Wigan Athletic vs Liverpool FC (2006), Hotel Bitcoin (2024) and LALIGA Best 11 (2023).

David Silva arrived at City in the summer of 2010, having agreed to join the Blues after the World Cup.

It would prove to be one of the most inspired purchases by the Club in the modern era.

Silva had already established himself in the national team, having steadily risen through the ranks with La Roja, until he made his senior debut in November, 2006.

He scored his first goals in a 3-2 win over Greece in 2007 and played a key role in Spain's 2008 European Championship success, including a semi-final goal against Russia.

He came to prominence when Valencia loaned him to top-flight side Celta Vigo for the 2005-06 season and he hit four goals in 31 games to help clinch a UEFA Cup spot.

Silva's exploits earned him a seven-year contract at the Mestalla, where he would go on to make 161 appearances over the next four seasons.

Silva quickly adjusted to the demands of English football, quickly becoming a firm crowd favorite due to his continued excellence.

Few would deny that Silva has gone on to become one of the world's best midfielders, helping his country to the Euro 2012 prize, making him a world and European champion.

His ability to cast a spell over opposition defenses led to fans nicknaming him either 'Merlin' or 'El Mago' - the magician - and it's no coincidence that City's most successful period has come with Silva as an integral member of the Blues' starting XI.

His first two seasons in sky blue saw him add a Premier League and FA Cup winner's medal to an already bulging collection, as well as individual honors, which include a place in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year in 2012 and the City's Etihad Players' Player of the Year Award for the same season.

Silva made 41 appearances in the 2012/13 season, scoring five goals and assisting 13. He was again at his sparkling best as City won the Premier League title in 2013/14 and was also a Capital One Cup winner as City beat Sunderland 3-1 at Wembley.

The following season saw Silva post a personal best as he bagged 12 goals in 42 games, though he would have to wait until the 2015/16 season to add another winner's medal, as he was part of the team that beat Liverpool to clinch the Capital One Cup.

Silva won his 100th cap for Spain at Euro 2016 to confirm his lofty status for both club and country and has made an excellent start to the 2016/17 season - some believe his best yet - and won his first MCFC Player of the Year award as recognition of his efforts.

It was his eight campaign that saw the Spaniard produce his best football yet, as he won his third Premier League title and won a nomination for PFA Player of the Year as well as being voted into the PFA Team of the Year for only the second time.

Silva played in all four of Spain's World Cup matches in Russia.

Gerard Piqué Bernabéu was born on February 2, 1987 in Barcelona, Spain. He is a Spanish footballer, currently playing as a central defender for FC Barcelona. He started to his professional football career with Manchester United in 2004. In Manchester United he scored 2 goals in 12 matches. After that he loaned to Real Zaragoza in 2006-2007 season. Gerard came back to Manchester United in 2007, but he said that he wants to go back to Spain. In 2008, Gerard signed a contract with Barcelona, with a 50 million Euro buy-out clause.

David de Gea was born on 7 November 1990 in Madrid, Spain. He is an actor, known for Pepsi Max: Blue Card (2016), LaLiga (1929) and UEFA Champions League (1992).

Paco Gento was born on 21 October 1933 in Guarnizo, El Astillero, Cantabria, Spain. He was an actor, known for Saeta rubia (1956), Urtain, el rey de la selva... o así (1970) and 1966 FIFA World Cup (1966). He died on 18 January 2022 in Madrid, Spain.

Jordi Alba was born on 21 March 1989 in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. He has been married to Romarey Ventura since 17 June 2022. They have two children.

Emilio Butragueño was born on 22 July 1963 in Madrid, Spain. He is an actor, known for Hermida y Cía (1993), Deportes 13 (1962) and Johan Cruijff - En un momento dado (2004).

Koke Resurrección was born on 8 January 1992 in Madrid, Spain. He is an actor, known for LaLiga (1929), UEFA Champions League (1992) and 2013-2014 UEFA Champions League (2013). He has been married to Beatriz Espejel since 26 May 2018.

Juan Manuel Mata García (born 28 April 1988) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Manchester United and the Spain national team. He mostly plays as a central attacking midfielder, but he can also play on the wing.

A graduate of Real Madrid's youth academy, Mata played for Real Madrid Castilla in 2006-07, before joining Valencia in the summer of 2007. He became an integral part of the club's midfield, making 174 appearances over the course of four seasons. In August 2011, Mata signed for English club Chelsea of the Premier League for a fee believed to be in the region of EUR28 million, and in his debut season was part of the team that won the UEFA Champions League and the FA Cup. The following year, Chelsea won the UEFA Europa League, making Mata and teammate Fernando Torres the first players to hold the Champions League, Europa League, World Cup, and the European Championships simultaneously. After falling out of favour at Chelsea under José Mourinho, Mata was sold to Manchester United in January 2014, for a fee of £37.1 million.

Mata is a Spanish international, having represented Spain at under-16, under-17, under-19, under-20, under-21, Olympic and senior levels. He played for the under-20 side in the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup. In June 2009, Mata played at the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, his first senior tournament. On 9 September 2009, Mata scored his first goal for the senior team, against Estonia, securing the nation a place at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, and was part of Spain's World Cup-winning squad. In 2011, he went back to playing in the under-21 side, helping Spain win the 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship in Denmark. He won the Golden Player award and was part of the Team of the Tournament. Mata returned to the senior squad for UEFA Euro 2012 and, after coming on as a substitute, scored Spain's fourth goal in the final as Spain defeated Italy 4-0 to retain their title as champions of Europe.