• 2024-02

Gerard Piqué

Gerard Piqué Bernabéu (born 2 February 1987) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for La Liga club Barcelona and the Spain national team. Widely regarded as one of the greatest defenders of all time, he is known for his passing, tackling, and aerial ability.

Piqué began his career at Barcelona, but moved to Manchester United in 2004, where he spent four seasons. He returned to Barcelona in 2008 and has since become a key player, winning 30 major titles, including eight La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey titles, and three UEFA Champions League titles. He has also won the FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championship with Spain.

Piqué has been praised for his leadership and his ability to play out from the back. He is also known for his outspoken personality and his relationship with Colombian singer Shakira, with whom he has two children.

Early life and career

Piqué was born in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. He began playing football at a young age and joined Barcelona's youth academy, La Masia, at the age of 10. He progressed through the ranks and made his first-team debut for Barcelona in the 2004–05 season.

Manchester United

In 2004, Piqué moved to Manchester United for a fee of £5 million. He made his debut for the club in the 2004–05 season and scored his first goal in a 4–0 win over Charlton Athletic. He played sparingly in his first season, but became a regular starter in the 2005–06 season.

Piqué won the Premier League title and the League Cup with Manchester United in the 2006–07 season. He also played in the 2009 UEFA Champions League Final, which Manchester United lost to Barcelona.

Return to Barcelona

In 2008, Piqué returned to Barcelona for a fee of £24 million. He quickly established himself as a key player for the club, winning the La Liga title and the Copa del Rey in his first season. He has since won a total of eight La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey titles, and three UEFA Champions League titles with Barcelona.

Piqué has also been a key player for the Spain national team, winning the FIFA World Cup in 2010 and the UEFA European Championship in 2012. He retired from international football after the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Playing style

Piqué is a versatile defender who can play as a centre-back or a left-back. He is known for his passing ability, his tackling, and his aerial ability. He is also a good reader of the game and is able to anticipate his opponents' moves.

Honours

Barcelona

La Liga: 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2017–18, 2018–19
Copa del Rey: 2008–09, 2011–12, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2020–21
Supercopa de España: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2018
UEFA Champions League: 2008–09, 2010–11, 2014–15
UEFA Super Cup: 2009, 2011, 2015
FIFA Club World Cup: 2009, 2011, 2015

Spain

FIFA World Cup: 2010
UEFA European Championship: 2012

Individual

UEFA Team of the Year: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016
FIFA FIFPro World XI: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2016
La Liga Team of the Season: 2014–15, 2015–16, 2017–18
Copa del Rey Most Valuable Player: 2015
UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season: 2014–15, 2015–16, 2017–18
FIFA FIFPro World Player: 2010