Former FC Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez has shared his fond memories of winning the Club World Cup, describing the experience as “touching the sky.”

Xavi lifted the trophy twice,in 2009 and 2011,under the guidance of then-manager Pep Guardiola.He recalls those victories with great affection.

“It gives you the feeling that you touch the sky when you are club world champion,” Xavi stated.

“You see different styles of play, you’ve played against teams from Oceania, South America and North America and, well, it’s nice.”

“I think it’s going to be a before and after this competition,” Xavi predicted, referring to the tournament’s new format.

The club World Cup,previously held as a winter tournament in the Middle East,is set for a notable revamp. It will now be hosted in the United States and feature 32 teams competing in a group stage format, culminating in a final with substantial prize money at stake.

FC barcelona, where Xavi once managed, will not participate in the upcoming tournament. Instead,Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid will represent Spain.

real madrid will face Al-Hilal, Pachuca, and RB Salzburg in their group, while Atletico Madrid will compete against Paris Saint-Germain, Botafogo, and the Seattle Sounders.

Xavi believes the revamped Club World Cup will provide “an possibility for the different clubs in the world to measure themselves at a very high level.” He also recalled a surprising defeat to Brazil’s Internacional in 2006, shortly after Barcelona’s Champions League victory over Arsenal.

“It’s challenging. You don’t usually know these teams that much. I remember that it is a different football, different, perhaps more physical, more contact,” Xavi noted.

FC Barcelona’s Last Club World Cup Triumph

FC Barcelona last won the Club World Cup in 2015,with Xavi having already departed for Al-Sadd. They defeated river Plate 3-0 in the final, with goals from Lionel Messi and a Luis Suarez brace.