Why Xavi Hernandez May Just Be the Most Valuable Footballer in the World

Are Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi better? Well, probably. But Barcelona, arguably the best team in the world (Inter, Bayern Munich, and Chelsea are all in that conversation), may not have the same level of success they’ve had the last few years without Xavier Hernandez Creus (he goes by Xavi Hernandez, or just Xavi) running the show. In a one-sentence summary, he has the best vision and passing in the world along with controlling the pace and style of every game he plays for his world-caliber club. But you don’t want to read one sentence… Besides, I have a point to prove. Ronaldo and Messi may be more sensational players with their fancy dribbling and penchants for goals, but do they really have that much value towards their star-laden clubs? There are tons of guys who can just score goals, but a true footballer understands the importance of the assist and the ability to control the game. Simply put, this is the essence of Xavi.

The way Barcelona plays football when they have possession is essentially engineered by Xavi Hernandez. Think of an NBA team that was led by an amazing point guard. Those teams have generally been successful. The Utah Jazz had John Stockton, Jason Kidd has been everywhere, and Magic Johnson was simply the best until his johnson wasn’t so magic anymore. (Too soon?) Xavi runs the Barcelona attack like those men, commandeering the middle of the field with the ball at his feet, waiting to unleash the perfect through ball to a forward. In Barca’s most recent triumph over Real Madrid, a 2-0 domination (the Catalans had the ball over 55% of the time), Xavi had incredible assists on both goals to Messi and Pedro Rodriguez. The guy can score too, with an incredible free kick against at the beginning of this month against Villarreal one of his many offensive highlights.

Want a resume of the man’s accomplishments? Finalist for World Player of the Year last season. 4 La Liga trophies. Two Champions League titles. This season, he has completed in excess of 400 passes more than any other player in La Liga. In EURO 2008, Xavi had 100 passes against Russia in the semifinal (literally more than one per minute) and scored the first goal in a 3-0 win. In the final against Germany, he supplied the assist for the only goal of the game (by eight year-old lookalike Fernando Torres). In Barca’s Champions League final match last season against Manchester United, Hernandez was named the UEFA Man of the Match. Clearly, the man elevates his game in important matches. In the second leg of this year’s Champions League quarter-final against Arsenal, he had a mind-boggling 105 passes, 41 passes than the next guy in the entire game (Rafael Marquez aka Captain Mexico).

You know what else distinguishes Hernandez, other than his incredible machine-like passing and class-act demeanor? His success on the international level has also contributed to his reputation as arguably the best midfielder in the world. Named the Player of the Tournament for EURO 2008, Xavi led Spain as they dominated in the European Championship. La Furia Roja played the most beautiful and efficient football in the tourney, and Hernandez was truly an integral part. He and Barca teammate/midfield dynamo Andres Iniesta collectively defecated on defenses and picked apart the rest of Europe with their passing. A younger Xavi also helped Spain win the silver medal in the 2000 Olympics as well with two goals, including one in the championship game against Cameroon.

So how exactly does this make him valuable? I think of the economic principle supply and demand as they relate to price (or value/worth). In layman’s terms, there are very few midfielders who can hold the ball and pass as efficiently as Xavi. Some people may title the position as a “deep-lying midfielder”, such as old-school Andrea Pirlo, or just a basic central midfielder. (Steven Gerrard and his approximate 638 dives per game can also be included here.) Meanwhile, other positions such a striker or winger are bountiful. If Antonio Di Natale and Nicolas Anelka can score boatloads of goals and not necessarily be considered elite, world-class players… then how much value can you really give to a middle-of-the-table forward? In contrast, only a few players possess the skills Hernandez does; I like to equate the passing midfielder with a franchise quarterback, catcher, or obviously, point guard.

Xavi may not be the flashiest player, and he definitely won’t grab the most headlines. But what he brings to the table for Barcelona is something equaled by absolutely no one; his talents are once-in-a-generation. Watch him during the World Cup this summer and tell me there’s another player like him. You can’t. Metro Ronaldo and Messi may be better players, but remove them from their respective Spanish club teams, and their teams are still 100% world-caliber. But a Barca squad without #6 in the middle? Very similar to a day without sunshine.