Iniesta Opens Up About His Battle With Depression

Midfielder Andres Iniesta scored the winner in the final of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, but that same year he suffered with mental health issues. The Spaniard has now opened up about that dark time in his glittering career.

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The 34-year-old is a world champion and is recognised as one of the best footballers of the past decade, while many have even referred him as the greatest player in Spanish history, but even he has had his troubles.

Almost a year before the World Cup in 2010, Iniesta's good friend and former Spain youth team teammate Dani Jarque passed away after suffering a heart attack in pre-season while on duty with Espanyol.

That incident led to Iniesta suffering heavily in the 2009/10 season, during which he struggled for form and at times lost his place in Pep Guardiola's side.

The Spaniard eventually came alive again when he struck the winning goal against the Netherlands in the 2010 World Cup final in Johannesburg, but he has now discussed what he was experiencing during that dark time.

"You feel that it's not you, that you don't enjoy things, that the people around you are just people," he said on Antena 3 TV.

"You have no feelings or passion. You end up feeling empty inside and there is a moment that you realise that you cannot take it anymore.

"I had the ability to see that I needed to see someone to get out of that situation.

"The important thing is that, in that period, I never lost the spark."

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After scoring the winner in the final, Iniesta removed his Spain jersey to reveal a vest that had "Dani Jarque siempre con nosotros", which translates to "Dani Jarque, always with us".

What is your greatest memory of Iniesta? Let us know in the comments section below.