Replacing Andres Iniesta has been one of Ernesto Valverde's greatest challenges at Barcelona. 

Until Arthur and Frenkie de Jong began to forge a partnership this season, it seemed the Blaugrana's midfield would lack organisation and imagination for a long while yet. 

Playing alongside Xavi, Iniesta was simply sublime in La Liga until he left in 2018. 

The 35-year-old is now in the J-League with Vissel Kobe, where he has scored nine goals in 33 appearances. 

Yet it's his 16-year career at Camp Nou that he'll be remembered for - that, and his phenomenal achievements with the Spanish national team. 

The midfielder was part of that great La Roja team which won two European Championships and a World Cup between 2008 and 2012.

Sadly, he was unable to go out on a high and he retired from international football after Spain crashed out of the 2018 World Cup on penalties to hosts Russia in the last-16. 

Regardless, he will go down in history as one of the game's greatest magician. 

Iniesta's ball-control was second to none and he was an expert in getting himself out of difficult situations. 

To prove that point, an entire website has been devoted to photos of him surrounded by opposing players. 

Here are some of the best featured on Iniestarodeado: 

Iniesta vs Italy, Euro 2012

Iniesta vs Croatia, Euro 2012

Iniesta vs Juventus, 2015

However, perhaps the most iconic photo from Iniesta's career came not during a match itself, but after he said goodbye to Barcelona despite having signed a lifetime contract that could have kept him at the club in some capacity. 

When the stadium was completely empty, he made his way back onto the pitch and sat down by the halfway line.

Appreciate these last few precious years of his career.