One of the most important players in Spain’s recent history has officially said goodbye to his playing career. Andres Iniesta retired today (as promised), on October the 8th in accordance to the number he wore during his successful career in Barcelona. He made history in Spanish football on 11 July 2010 when he scored the goal that gave Spain its first ever World Cup in Johannesburg against the Netherlands in the 116th minute. He organized a press conference where the important players and coaches (present and former) witnessed his tears but also message about his future.🚨🎙️| Andrés Iniesta: “Ballon d’Or? The image of Xavi, Leo (Messi) and me on the podium is bigger than me winning it. Three players from La Masia on the podium was the biggest prize, not who won it.” #fcblive pic.twitter.com/tCN0sc1BYU— BarçaTimes (@BarcaTimes) October 8, 2024 “I can’t be too far from football, it has been my life and it will continue to be. We are working on different projects. In this next step I have that motivation to continue training outside of football but in the same way. I need to learn, make mistakes, train, in the project of the clubs we have, the academies… which is a legacy that I want to continue maintaining. And I am already starting with the coaching course. Those who know me know that I am quite stubborn. I hope to do a great job not running after the ball, but from the other side. But with a lot of desire. If there is one word that can sum up this stage it is PRIDE. It is sad because I would have played until I was 90 years old but happy to have fulfilled the dream of being a footballer” he said. Lionel Messi’s tribute to Andrés Iniesta on his Instagram story following Iniesta’s retirement:”One of the most magical teammates and the ones I enjoyed playing with the most. The ball will miss you and so will all of us. I always wish you the best, you are a phenomenon.” 🥺 pic.twitter.com/aump2bWRC0— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) October 8, 2024 Even Barcelona’s biggest rival Real Madrid released a statement honoring Iniesta and one of the most touching messages came from Lionel Messi. “One of the most magical teammates and one of those I enjoyed playing with the most. Andrés Iniesta, the ball is going to miss you and so will we!!” said the now Inter Miami footballer, in a message accompanied by a photo of them celebrating a goal with Barcelona. “I always wish you the best, you are a phenomenon” Messi concluded. The magician – scorer of the most important goal in Spanish football history – is hanging his wandLionel Messi and Andrés Iniesta shared the locker room from 2004 to 2018. During that time, Barcelona won 32 trophies, including four in the Champions League. As for Iniesta himself, he broke into the first team from famous La Masia academy and made his first-team debut aged just 18, becoming a mainstay in the midfield before his departure 16 years later after 674 appearances. He won nine La Liga titles and the Champions League four times with Barcelona, also lifting six Copas del Rey in a haul of 32 trophies during his time at Camp Nou. He won 131 caps for Spain before calling time on his international career after the 2018 World Cup. After leaving Barcelona in 2018, Iniesta spent five years with Japanese club Vissel Kobe before playing one final season with Emirates of the UAE.##NAJAVA_MECA_8398493##
