5 players who would receive Kobe style send off

Los Angeles Lakers basketball star Kobe Bryant (C L) and Barcelona team captain Andrés Iniesta Luján (C R) pose with other members of the FC Barcelona football team before a training session at the StarHub Stadium in Carson, California, on July 20, 2015. Barcelona will play the LA Galaxy in an International Champions Cup match on July 21. AFP PHOTO/MARK RALSTON (Photo credit should read MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images) /

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YOKOHAMA, JAPAN – DECEMBER 20: Andres Iniesta of Barcelona reacts after the FIFA Club World Cup Final between River Plate and FC Barcelona at the International Stadium Yokohama on December 20, 2015 in Yokohama, Japan. (Photo by Masterpress/Getty Images) /

3. Andres Iniesta

Cool, calm and collected, that’s the way you could describe Andres Iniesta. His balanced ability to control possession in the midfield is masterful, but so is his commitment to Barcelona. He’s approaching 400 matches played for Barca and while he’s not a great goal scoring threat, his passing ability to find attackers is what makes himself so successful domestically in La Liga and internationally. It doesn’t hurt to Have Luis Suarez, Neymar and Messi ahead of him.

Iniesta’s brand has expanded greatly and is more than a Spanish star, he’s an international star with a massive deal with Nike. That alone elevates him to the global stage of being one of the most recognizable names in football.

Iniesta won’t ever be an all out scoring machine, but for true soccer fans who understand the sport will be able to appreciate his efforts and ability to lead Barcelona and the Spanish national team to glory.

Next: 2. Lionel Messi

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