Andres Iniesta has announced his retirement from football at the age of 40, receiving heartfelt tributes from numerous former Barcelona teammates, including the legendary Lionel Messi. Messi shared his sentiments on Instagram, stating, “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.”
Iniesta joined La Masia, Barcelona’s prestigious youth academy, at the age of 12 in 1996, prior to the arrival of a young Lionel Messi, who joined four years later at 13. Iniesta made his debut for the senior team in 2002, two years ahead of Messi. The duo would enjoy an impressive 14-year partnership in Catalonia, contributing to some of the most remarkable football teams seen in history alongside other key players from the 2000s and 2010s.
During Iniesta’s time at Barcelona from 2004 to 2018, the club secured nine La Liga titles, six Copa del Rey titles, and three Champions League trophies.
In 2018, Iniesta departed from Barcelona to spend five seasons with Vissel Kobe in Japan, followed by a stint at Emirates in the UAE. He played his final match for the Spain national team in the 2018 World Cup, having previously celebrated a World Cup victory with his nation in 2010.
Pep Guardiola’s iconic Barcelona era is drawing to a close
With Iniesta’s retirement, we witness the closing chapter of an era marked by the contributions of players from Barcelona’s 2008-2012 harmonies. Under the stewardship of the distinguished Pep Guardiola, who was himself a former Barcelona midfielder, this era produced what is often considered the greatest team in football history, winning three La Liga titles, two Copa del Rey trophies, and two Champions League titles in just four seasons.
The core of the teams during this exceptional period included Victor Valdes as goalkeeper, along with defenders Gerard Pique, Carles Puyol, Dani Alves, and Javier Mascherano. Midfield was anchored by Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, and Sergio Busquets, while the frontline featured Lionel Messi supported by the likes of Thierry Henry, Samuel Eto’o, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Pedro, and David Villa at various times.
With Iniesta’s departure, only Messi and Busquets remain active, now teammates at Inter Miami in the MLS, along with Pedro, who is playing for Lazio. Notably, Victor Valdes, Puyol, Xavi, Henry, and Eto’o have all retired before 2020, while Pique, Mascherano, Villa, and Ibrahimovic have also stepped away from football this decade.
Although Alves last participated in professional football in 2023 in Mexico, his contract was prematurely ended following his arrest and subsequent conviction for sexual assault in Spain. Despite receiving a sentence of over four years, he was released from Barcelona prison in March after serving just 14 months.
Even Pep Guardiola seems to be approaching a pivotal moment in his career; the 53-year-old manager of Manchester City has a contract that will expire at the conclusion of the 2024-25 season and has yet to secure an extension to continue leading the team beyond the current season.
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