Carles Puyol

Carles Puyol epitomised the Barcelona and Spain defensive tradition - tireless, ferocious, and utterly committed, he was one of the most respected captains in football history. He led Barcelona through the peak of their dominance from 2004 to 2012, winning two Champions Leagues and six La Liga titles. With Spain he was a key figure in the 2006 World Cup run and played in the 2010 World Cup-winning squad despite battling long-term injury problems throughout his career. His two Champions League titles are one fewer than Sergio Ramos's four, but he achieved them in a shorter prime window of just eight peak seasons.