Xavi
© Getty Images
His 2011
The undisputed king of possession football, Xavi was his usual ultra-consistent self in 2011, producing a string of typically polished displays as he moved third on the list of Spain’s most capped players and set a new appearances record for his club employers Barcelona.
The vastly experienced midfield maestro was integral to Barça’s five trophy wins during the course of the year, his gift for recycling possession and dictating the pace undimmed. Responsible for providing Lionel Messi with a steady supply of bullets, the selfless Xavi finished runner-up to his Argentinian team-mate for the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award. The Spanish pass-master capped off the year by lifting the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan for the second time in two years.