Andres Iniesta will always have a special place in the hearts of Spanish soccer fans for scoring the dramatic extra-time goal that secured the Iberian nation's first world title in South Africa in 2010.
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The pale, shy lad from the Manchegan village of Fuentealbilla, now 29, has returned to where it all began this week as Spain play their final World Cup 2014 Group I qualifier against Georgia in the nearby city of Albacete on Tuesday.
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It is not just Iniesta's home town and the place where his career began but was also the venue for his national team debut, a 0-0 draw against Russia in May 2006, and he has gone on to represent his country 91 times, scoring 11 goals.
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Spain need a solitary point to secure their place at the finals in Brazil next year and the stage is set for Iniesta to make another vital contribution to their stunning success since he became an integral part of the team.
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Coach Vicente del Bosque has already said the Barcelona playmaker will be in the starting line-up and Iniesta was given a hero's welcome by adoring locals when he arrived in Albacete by train with the rest of the squad on Monday morning.