The latest instalment in our Digital Cover series sees Real Betis star Isco giving insight into his journey through the game, bringing us neatly to the present day where he’s backed by Skechers.
There are footballers who dance through games with rhythm and grace, and then there’s Isco—someone who makes the ball feel like it was made for him. The third star to front our SoccerBible Digital Cover series, Isco is more than a player; he's a craftsman of the beautiful game, a purist with soul stitched into every touch.
Once the golden boy of Spanish football, he's walked the fire—through triumphs, setbacks, reinventions—and now, at Real Betis, he's found something deeper than form: freedom. In this candid conversation, the man from Arroyo de la Miel opens up about football as expression, the enduring power of duende, and why, even after it all, the spark still burns just as bright. A story of return, of resilience, and above all, of style—this is Isco, unfiltered.
You've had a long and successful career. What has kept you wanting to continue playing?
The love for the ball. That never goes away. From when I was a child in Arroyo de la Miel until today, every time I touch the ball, I feel that spark. But there’s something deeper too: the desire to prove that you can come back, that you're not finished just because you've had a low point. I like to compete, I like the challenge. And as long as I have that enthusiasm and my body respects me, I'll keep fighting.
You've played for big teams. What does this stage at Betis mean to you?
For me, Betis is a very special club. It has given me back the joy of playing. Here I've felt important, loved, and free again. And that's priceless. But I didn't come just to enjoy myself: I came hungry. Hungry to win, to compete, to contribute. I'm in a place where I can be happy and ambitious at the same time. And when those two things come together, I feel that beautiful things happen.
When people talk about your legacy, what would you like them to feel?
I'd love for them to say that I was a footballer with duende [a Spanish term for a special charm or spirit]. Not just for how I played, but for what I conveyed. That my football was exciting. And that I was brave. That when bad times came, I didn’t hide, I got up, worked in silence, and became myself again.
How do you manage to improve your game without losing your style? Do you think the word 'style' defines you?
Style is what makes you recognisable. It's not trained, it's something you have. But it can be refined, matured. I've learned to read the game better, to be more complete, but without leaving aside what makes me different. For me, improving is not about changing who you are, it's about being more yourself than ever.
Your way of playing is very artistic. Do you see football as a form of art or expression?
Of course. There are matches that seem like a movie: with rhythm, emotion, unexpected twists... Football is a way of telling who you are without speaking. I’ve always tried to play from what I feel, not from what I'm told. That's why sometimes I've been understood more... and other times less.
When you play, how do you feel the match in your mind? Do you think in rhythms, images, patterns?
I try to interpret what the match demands. Sometimes the pass isn't written, but you see it. You sense it. And that's what I like the most: creating where there seemed to be nothing.
Do you draw inspiration from things outside of football like music, fashion, or design?
No, football is my inspiration and it comes naturally to me. I always try to test new things in training and see what works and what doesn't to put it into practice in matches.
Which players, past or present, do you consider truly creative like you?
Riquelme, Ronaldinho, Zidane, Iniesta... they all played from another place. With pause, with imagination, with that class that can't be taught. And in the present... I still have to see who does it with that freedom. Because today people run a lot, but think less. And for me, the head is still the best engine.
In a world that asks players to adapt, how have you managed to maintain your own style?
With conviction. Modern football sometimes asks you to be a robot. But I believe you can be effective without stopping being an artist. I've had to adapt, yes, but without betraying what makes me who I am.
Do you think there's a difference between playing well and playing beautifully? Do you seek beauty in your way of playing?
Yes, there's a clear difference. Playing well is fulfilling. Playing beautifully is exciting. And if you can do both... then it's magical. I've always tried to make football not just useful, but beautiful. Because a pass with intention can be as powerful as a goal.
If you had to define your style with one word or image, what would it be and why?
I'd say "duende". Because it appears when you least expect it, because it can't be explained with data. It's that feeling that runs through you when something is well done, but also has soul. That's what I look for in every play.
Your collaboration with Skechers also seems to speak to your personality. What attracted you to this brand?
Freedom. From the beginning, they let me be myself, without artifice. And the boots... they're crazy. Light, comfortable, as if you weren't wearing anything. I feel comfortable and, most importantly, I feel fast, loose. On the field, that's everything. Also, I like that they bet on something different, as I have done.
Thinking about everything you've experienced in your career, which moments have marked you the most?
Debuting in the First Division, lifting my first Champions League, feeling a crowd chanting your name... These are moments that stay with you. But also the difficulties. The injuries, the days when no one bets on you. Because that's where you truly get to know yourself. And in those moments, I decided not to give up.
What would you like to achieve now, on and off the field, that's different from what you dreamed of when you started?
When I started, I just wanted to play. Now I want to leave a legacy. Not just of football, but of values. I want young people to see that you can fall and get back up. That you don't have to be perfect, but you do have to be honest. And that in this game, as in life, what counts is how you get up. To have the ambition of the first day to keep winning, to keep improving, and to keep enjoying.
Isco wears the Skechers Razor, which you can pick up at prodirectsport.com/soccer
