Unlike Xavi, most of Pirlo’s passes are always direct and forward. Since, the transition from defence to offence is supposed to be lightening quick, building play from the back and linking up ...

Pirlo made his Serie A debut at just 16 years of age in 1995 with his local club, Brescia, but once he moved to a bigger club – to Inter Milan in 1998 – he couldn’t crack it.

Xavi broke down in tears at a farewell event this week as he prepares to see out the twilight of his career in Qatar, and Pirlo is also weighing up a proposition from the Qatar Stars League as ...

They exude calm off it, too. Xavi likes to spend his downtime in the Pyrenees picking mushrooms. Pirlo retreats to his vineyard where he produces about 15,000 to 20,000 bottles of wine a year.

Pirlo has been to more than one club what Xavi has been to Barcelona. Like Xavi, he has also had a significant impact at the international level, playing a key role in Italy's 2006 World Cup win ...

Milan: When Andrea Pirlo and Xavi Hernandez face each other for the last time at the Champions League final on Saturday, there will be more than a Champions League title at stake.

Where Xavi won, Andrea Pirlo lost. The timeless Italian playmaker had possibly seen this as an opportunity to win the Champions League one last time. As Barcelona ran away 3-1 winners on Saturday ...

Xavi has only ever played for one club, Barça, while Pirlo made his Serie A debut for Brescia before going on to play for all of Inter Milan, Reggina, AC Milan and Juventus.

Aged 35 and 36 respectively this will be both's swan song at the top of world football. The last time they met was the Euro 2012 final where Xavi's Spain ran out comfortable 4-0 winners against ...

Andrea Pirlo was snubbed by Barcelona and is now the leading candidate to replace Davide Ballardini at Genoa. The La Liga giants will announce Xavi as their new head coach after the sacking of ...

When you have the likes of Pirlo, Daniele De Rossi, Xavi, Alonso and Iniesta operating in one space, sparks of inspiration are certain to fly in the final of Euro 2012.