March 24 marks 20 years since the debut of a FC Barcelona legend. Midfielder Xavi Hernández, considered to be one of the best to have ever played the game, made his first appearance in a Barça shirt back in 1998, in the semifinal of the Copa Catalunya. Whilst the game was classed as an unofficial contest, Xavi played 90 minutes and showed signs of what was to come.
FC Barcelona would win the match 2-1, with a brace from Jofre. Future Barça coach Tito Villanova found the net for opponents UE Lleida.
A record-breaking career
Given his debut by Louis Van Gaal aged just 18 years and 2 months, Xavi would have an amazing career at Barça over the course of 17 seasons. His first official appearance was on August 18, 1998, in the Spanish Supercopa, scoring in a 2-1 defeat to Mallorca.
Before his departure from the club in the summer of 2015, Xavi would win everything there is to win in the game: Eight LaLiga titles, 3 Copa Del Reys, 6 Spanish Supercopas, 4 Champions League titles, 2 European Supercups and 2 Club World Cups. The road to those 25 trophies began one night in 1998, two decades ago.
