Xavi might just be a passer of the ball, but that is a slight disingenuous way to put it because his impact and importance to his sides is so great.
I do think Schweinsteiger is a pretty special player himself and he has years on Xavi, so let's see where he goes in the next few years. But he will have to be consistently and absolutely brilliant to match him, for me.
For me, until now anyway, the difference is how they have performed at the very top level of the game. Xavi has dominated CL finals, semi-finals, quarter-finals time and time again. He's dominated at the international level too, in the biggest matches.
Schweinsteiger hasn't done that yet. Sure they are different players and have a different skillset and role - but for now, when Schweinsteiger has got to those big moments he hasn't impressed the same way Xavi has.
So for now I'd say Xavi IS on a different level. He's legendary for me and that's defined by being the best, against the best in the biggest matches. Schweinsteiger is world class or whatever you want to call it, but he isn't a footballing great. Not yet anyway.
