July 12, 2010. Spain and the Netherlands had played the fiercest FIFA World Cup final ever and it all came down to the last five minutes of extra time. Just before regulation time, Xabi Alonso gave way to a young Cesc Fabregas, who had come off the bench for Spain throughout the tournament.
It was minute 117, three minutes before penalty shoot-outs when Andres Iniesta found space for himself and got the ball past Dutch goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg as the city of Johannesburg in South Africa erupted in joy as the La Roja almost certainly sealed their maiden World Cup trophy.
Iniesta was a hero. The god of Barcelona, but he attributed the goal to another midfielder, one who was once the youngest captain of a top Premier League club. This was none other than Fabregas, whose pass found Iniesta and gave him a World Cup assist in the final. Not many can boast about this.
Fabregas has been one to shy away from cameras. He was groomed in a team of giants like Dennis Bergkamp, Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira, having made his professional debut in the season Arsenal went Invincible, in 2003-03. He was 18 then but little did he know that four years later, at the age of 22, he would become the youngest captain for the North London Gunners. Such was his influence that even the great Arsene Wenger recognised it.
Greatness came calling just after the World Cup and Fabregas joined his Spanish teammates in Barcelona. Many have criticised this move given the amount of midfield talent that the Catalans possessed, but this did not stop him from becoming a multiple La Liga winner.
But when Chelsea wanted to sign the midfielder once again in 2016, his first call was not to the Chelsea manager or their Director of Football. It was to Wenger, to ask if Arsenal wanted him first and whether he had the Frenchmen's permission to join Chelsea. However, given the building salary that he was going to get, a move to Arsenal, who were under massive debt, seemed implausible. And Wenger was not one to stop a player from progressing in his career, and instead, gave Fabregas the chance to finally become a Premier League winner. Which he did. Twice. Finally fulfilling the potential he had when he first made his debut in England.
Fabregas has finally called time on his career. And while many might not call him the greatest of all time, he is MY greatest of all time.
Thank you for the memories FaB. Adios and hope to see you in the Red of the Arsenal soon.
