1. Iniesta’s World Cup Winning Goal
What could be more traumatic than losing someone close to you? Andre Iniesta’s longtime buddy and Espanyol captain Dani Jarque passed away in 2007 after having a heart attack during a preseason practice. Iniesta’s season-long performance suffered greatly as a result of this incredibly painful incident.
Three years later, in the 2010 FIFA World Cup final, the Spaniard gave Spain its first-ever victory over the Netherlands with the game-winning goal in a 1-0 victory. Iniesta revealed a message for his friend Dani Jarque when he took off his shirt during the boisterous celebration. It read: “Dani Jarque: Siempre con Nosotros,” which is translated as “Dani Jarque: Always with Us.”
The contract Iniesta received as a result of his loyalty to his friend couldn’t have come at a better time. Iniesta made a motion, but the referee seemed unfazed and erroneously punished him; nobody seemed to care, however. One of the most touching moments in football history is Andres Iniesta’s winning goal at the 2010 World Cup.