Spain

Famous People from Spain : Famous Spanish Footballers/Soccer Players

The following Spanish athletes dedicated themselves in promoting and inspiring people about football, one of the most well-loved sports in the world.

Fernando Torres
Nicknamed “The Kid”, Spanish famous striker Fernando Torres started his career with Atlético de Madrid and moved to Liverpool in 2007 after signing for a club record transfer fee. In 2011, Torres joined Chelsea for an English record fee of £50 million, which made him the fourth most expensive player in history. He won the Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup with the Spanish national team.

Iker Casillas
World Cup-winning Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas serves as captain for both the Spanish national team and Real Madrid. Casillas has been recognized as one of the best goalkeepers in Europe.

Carles Puyol
Carles Puyol is FC Barcelona’s team captain and a regular in the Spanish national team having been capped over 60 times. He won the UEFA Champions League in 2006 and 2009 with FC Barcelona, and the UEFA Euro 2008 and FIFA World Cup in 2010 with Spain.

Xavi Hernández
FC Barcelona’s midfielder Xavi Hernández, generally known as Xavi, is renowned throughout Europe for his exceptional passing ability and technique. Xavi also won two European champion clubs’ cup with FC Barcelona as well as the Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup with Spain.

Gerard Piqué
Another product of FC Barcelona’s football academy, Gerard Piqué initially left the club for Manchester United in 2004, where he remained for four years, before returning to Barcelona under Josep Guardiola’s leadership, and helping Barça to become the first Spanish club ever to complete the treble. Piqué is the third player, after Marcel Desailly and Paulo Sousa, to have won the UEFA Champions League two years in a row with different teams.

Francesc “Cesc” Fàbregas
Catalan midfielder Cesc Fàbregas started his career as a trainee with FC Barcelona but was signed by Arsenal in September 2003 at the age of 16. Cesc also played in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2008 and 2010 FIFA World Cup, helping Spain to become eventual winners in the two most recent tournaments.

Xabier “Xabi” Alonso Olano
Basque footballer Xabi Alonso, who currently plays for Real Madrid, won the Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup with Spain. Former team captain of Real Sociedad, he moved to Liverpool FC in August 2004 where he won the UEFA Champions League in his first season at the club.