Xavi Hernandez is still making the game of football look effortless in Qatar, and the former Barcelona and Spain star is on the verge of adding another trophy to his cabinet. For those keeping count, this would be number 627.
For those of you wondering how footballers will manage to perform in the sweltering heat of a Qatarian World Cup, Xavi has the answer: slowly but surely.
His club Al Sadd defeated Al Rayyan 3-2 in the semi-final of the Emir of Qatar Cup, the country’s domestic cup competition. Wearing the captain’s armband, Xavi orchestrated the action from midfield.
#Xavi - the conductor of the #AlSadd Opera
pic.twitter.com/iJpXDEhwro— Ahdaaf (@ahdaafme) May 13, 2016
Xavi may now be 36 years old, but he’s still provided Al Sadd with 3 goals and 15 assists over the course of the 2015/16 season. Thanks to YouTube user Avatar Eyes, we can watch every goal, assist and pre-assist here:
While speed has never been an important quality in Xavi’s play, his ability to find space and quickly move the ball remains undiminished. Frankly, Xavi is revolutionizing the role of the deep-lying playmaker in Qatari football.
Xavi signed a three-year contract with Al Sadd on May 21, 2015. His role at the club also sees him double as an ambassador for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
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