Defense of great strength and speed, although his original position was that of the right back, his agility and conditions as a marker would later allow him to also assume the leadership of the rear in the central position. On October 2, 1999 he made his debut with the Barcelona first team, when the coach was the Dutchman Louis van Gaal. From that moment on, he became the main axis of the Barça team's rearguard and one of its most charismatic players, thanks to his fighting spirit.
Puyol's first great success with his club came in the 2004-2005 season, when Barcelona (led by Frank Rijkaard and who had great players in their ranks, such as the Mexican Rafael Márquez, the Brazilian Ronaldinho or the Cameroonian Samuel Eto 'or, among many others) was proclaimed champion of the Spanish League. The following season, 2005-2006, was once again a success for the Barcelona club: second consecutive league title and the prized Chamipons League in Paris, which Puyol, as captain, lifted the trophy at the Saint-Denis. This season he only missed five games, showing his toughness and great form.
The following season was one to forget: Barcelona did not win a title, and at the end, Puyol suffered an injury in a friendly match when the external lateral ligament of his knee was torn. The Barça captain did not play again until September, but already in the 2007-2008 season he again showed that he was an iron man by playing 30 league games. An essential figure of the team, he was part of the most glorious season in 2008-2009 during Barça's history: under the direction of the new coach, former Barça player Pep Guardiola, and with the emergence of what would soon be considered the best player in the world, Leo Messi, Barça conquered the so-called "triplet", the victory in the three tournaments in which it participated: the Spanish League, the Copa del Rey and the Champions League. And in the following season he still scored a new league title on his record.
With the Spanish National Team, Puyol played the World Cups in Korea 2002 and Germany 2006. After the World Cup events, he was an indisputable piece of the Spanish team, to which he contributed his claw and talent to conquer the second European Championship in 2008, hosted by Austria and Switzerland. The national team coach, Luis Aragonés, had at his disposal one of the most competitive promotions in the history of Spanish football, which included Iker Casillas, Andrés Iniesta, Xavi Hernández and Fernando Torres, among others. At the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Carles Puyol scored the goal that defeated the favorites Germany and led Spain to the final. Days later, on July 11, 2010, Spain won their first World Cup for the first time in its history, after beating the Netherlands 0-1.
Carles Puyol is characterized by being a player of great physical strength and by his great capacity to sacrifice for the greater good of the team. As a very practical player, he knows how to solve complicated situations with great ease. Despite playing as a central defender, his versatility has meant that at times he has also played as a left back. His corpulence makes up for a not too remarkable height, performing well in the air game. His immense defensive skills are not at odds with his offense, and he does not hesitate to add his drive to the offensive game.
