Xavi Hernandez says he is optimistic that as Andres Iniesta prepares to walk away from top European football, his type of natural talent will always thrive in the game no matter how physical it becomes.
Xavi left Barcelona in 2015 after winning the treble in his final season and now his old midfield partner will do so off the back of a domestic double.
Both players were famously over-looked at the start of their careers because they were too small.
But Xavi believes talent will never be replaced by athleticism. He said: 'Football has reached an incredible level of physical development.
'Most of the data we receive is related to physical performance: a player has run 12 or even 13 kilometers, a certain maximum speed was reached.
'Of course this is important. But I believe we have reached a limit of physical development. The player cannot run more, the intensity cannot be higher - it amounts to almost a half marathon over two games. I think the side of talent, as well as technical and tactical knowledge, is where we can still improve.
'Talent is what makes the difference in a match. On a weekly basis I follow games in countries across the world, many games, probably too many if you ask my wife.
'In every country and every league, I look out for teams which play attacking football, and players with talent. For me the decisive factor is not players with physical presence, but those who give meaning and structure to the game.'
Asked about about Iniesta's imminent announcement on his retirement from the international game and his chance to bow out with trophies, as he did in 2015, Xavi said: 'I was very clear about it because I could see that I was playing less. You start noticing that everything is that little bit more difficult physically.
'Andres is different because he is still playing all the time. It's great that he goes out on a real high because he's been an example to everyone in football on and off the pitch.'
Xavi is in Madrid this week doing his Fifa coaching badges. He said: 'It's a pleasure to share the classroom with great former players and good friends, having shared so many important encounters on the pitch with them over the years.'
The 38-year-old, looks set to retire from playing at the end of this year, and wants to focus on beginning his coaching career but he says he wants to use that coaching at grass roots level too. He is also involved in a project entitled Generation Amazing which takes football schools and projects to build new football pitches to deprived areas.
He said: 'When I visited youngsters in a refugee camp in Jordan a few years ago I saw how Generation Amazing was able to help young people play the game they love in safe surroundings. I am inspired by the passion for the game which I have witnessed across this region. Coaching is a chance for me to give back to young players.'