Barcelona and Spanish football egend Andres Iniesta is reportedly set to confirm his retirement from professional football on 8 October, marking the end of an illustrious career.
The 40-year-old midfielder, who famously scored the winning goal in the 2010 World Cup final, has made over 670 appearances for Barcelona and won numerous honours, including nine La Liga titles and four Champions League crowns.
Iniesta’s most recent stint was with Emirates Club in the UAE, following a five-year spell in Japan with Vissel Kobe. He departed Barcelona in 2018, bringing an end to a memorable 16-year tenure at Camp Nou.
A product of Barcelona’s esteemed La Masia academy, Iniesta graduated alongside Lionel Messi, Xavi and Sergio Busquets. His impressive 131-cap international career yielded two European Championships and the 2010 World Cup triumph.
According to Spanish outlet Relevo, Iniesta will announce his retirement on 8 October, a date coinciding with his iconic shirt number. Speculation had linked him with a reunion with Messi and Busquets at Inter Miami, but a move to MLS is now off the table.
Instead, Iniesta is poised to transition into coaching, with a potential return to Barcelona mooted. “Obviously I would like to return to Barca at some point in my life, because that’s how I feel, but I don’t know when or how to say now, nor does anyone else,” he previously stated. “We’ll see how things go during this time and then we’ll see where we are.”
Over the years, there have been several players who have made the FC Barcelona’s fans fall in love with them, and Andres Iniesta is one of the few. One such player in that category was Andres Iniesta, who was clearly one of the best players of his time.
Andres Iniesta will be remembered mostly for his time at Barcelona, where he was one the integral components of Pep Guardiola’s legendary team. Iniesta’s decision marks the end of an era for Spanish football, but his legacy will undoubtedly continue to inspire future generations.