Spain have a rich history of sporting excellence, not limited to just one sport.
However, football is unsurprisingly the overwhelming favourite in the country.
They boast a crucial identity that informs both the club and national teams, almost forcing most of them to play with neat, intricate passing that always catches the eye.
And yet, during arguably Spain’s most ironic footballing periods, Rafael Nadal was also thriving in tennis.
This mid-sized nation boasted a stranglehold over two of the world’s most popular sports, with Andres Iniesta, a star of that football side, having outlined his admiration for the 22-time Grand Slam champion.
Andres Iniesta’s glowing testimony of Rafael Nadal
Speaking about his compatriot just last year, after Nadal announced his retirement, the tributes naturally poured in.
And these eulogies were not restricted to just tennis players.
Sportsmen from every walk of life united to celebrate a legendary career, with his work ethic and technical superiority a marvel for all who watched him.
Iniesta, who actually scored the winning goal for Spain in the 2010 World Cup final, even admitted that he saw Nadal as a role model, revealing: “Rafa gives it all on court and he is a role model…competitive and humble.
“All that Rafa does is amazing, and he continues to be a great example. He is a reference point in all ways, not only for tennis but for the sports world. For us as Spaniards, he is a pride, and we are lucky to have him. Everyone likes him.”
Rafael Nadal is seen by some as the greatest Spanish sportsman ever
Nadal, for many, is seen as the greatest sportsman ever. He is certainly in the conversation as one of the greatest tennis players of all time.
However, what sets him apart is the frightening physicality he boasted, pushing his body to its limits time and time again.
The dominance he had on the arduous clay is unlike anything any sport will ever see again. He won 14 French Open titles, the most any person has ever claimed at a single event.
John McEnroe has argued: “The two greatest athletes of all time are Bjorn Borg and Rafael Nadal.”
Meanwhile, Alejandro Blanco, the president of the Spanish Olympic Committee, claimed Nadal was ‘the sportsman who has had the greatest impact throughout history’ just last year as well.
His legacy will live on forever as a legendary figure who changed how tennis was viewed and played.
- READ MORE: What Rafael Nadal said happened to him when he watched Spain win the football World Cup in 2010
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