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Gerard Pique’s six most iconic moments for FC Barcelona and Spain

With more than a decade at the very top and an incredible 35 major honours at club and international level, Gerard Pique has had one of the most successful careers of any soccer player ever.

There are three certainties in life: death, taxes and Gerard Pique winning trophies.

From the Champions League to the World Cup, Pique has won it all. Best known for his epic partnership with Carles Puyol, there's no doubt the Spaniard will go down in history as a Barcelona legend.

Defenders don't always get the credit they deserve, but Planet Sport is here to remind you what an incredible career Pique has had.

First of many Barca goals

While he is best known for his stubborn defending, the Spaniard has also proved that he has an eye for goal during his time at Camp Nou.
Pique's first senior goal for Barca came in an emphatic 5-2 win at Sporting CP in the Champions League group stage back in 2008. It was a simple finish from close range after the home side had failed to deal with a set-piece, but he won't care.
Thirteen years on, Pique is nearing a half century of Barca goals - not bad for a centre-back.

Dominance at the Bernabeu

El Clasico is as big as it gets for Barcelona fans, and they certainly gained the bragging rights in May 2009.
Pique was on target as Pep Guardiola's men earned a convincing 6-2 win over their fierce rivals at the Bernabeu. It was a goal that summed up their dominance, with the defender making a bursting run from deep to turn home Samuel Eto'o's cross at the second attempt.
Pique couldn't have picked a better time to score his first Barca goal, with the win essentially wrapping up the club's first La Liga title since 2006. It was also the first time the away side had scored six goals in the historic fixture.

READ MORE: Lionel Messi's iconic FC Barcelona moments

Redemption in Europe

The Champions League final is one of the biggest dates on every football fan's calendar. The 2009 final saw Pique take on former club Manchester United with the world watching.

Sir Alex Ferguson's side were looking to become the first team to retain the famous trophy, but Barca ran out 2-0 winners thanks to an efficient performance in Rome. Things could have gone very differently when Victor Valdes fumbled Cristiano Ronaldo's early free-kick, but Pique was on hand to make a vital clearance.

It must have been a satisfying moment for the defender, who failed to break into the starting XI at Old Trafford due to Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand's exceptional form.

World Cup glory

Most young players dream of one day winning the World Cup, but very few actually achieve this feat.
Pique was part of Spain's 2010 World Cup winning side in South Africa, starting all seven games alongside Barca team-mate Puyol. The pair were superb throughout the tournament, conceding just two goals and keeping four successive clean sheets in the knockout rounds.
Spain's solid defence was a key part of their success, with Vicente del Bosque's men winning all four knockout matches by a 1-0 margin. While everyone remembered Andreas Iniesta's late winner against Holland in the final, Pique's contributions were equally important.

Same old story at the Euros

As if winning the World Cup wasn't enough, Pique was also part of Spain side that won the European Championships two years later. However, this time he partnered Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos at the heart of defence.

Once again, Spain's strong defence was a key factor behind the side's success - keeping five successive clean sheets culminating in a 4-0 thrashing of Italy in the final. Pique also scored from the spot as his side edged past Portugal in a tense shootout in the semi-final.
Unsurprisingly, the Barca man was named in UEFA's Team of the Tournament.

The double treble

Winning the treble is something very few players achieve during their playing career. Pique has done it twice.
The defender was part of the Barca side that won La Liga, the Champions League and the Copa del Rey in 2008/09. Guardiola's men were widely recognised as one of the greatest sides of all time due to their relentless pressing and ridiculous quality in the final third.

Remarkably, the Spanish giants won another treble six years later, this time under Luis Enrique. Pique is one of seven names that were part of both sides: alongside the likes of Lionel Messi, Xavi and Iniesta, he's certainly in good company.

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