Former Barcelona midfielder Andrs Iniesta, who won two European Championships and the 2010 World Cup with an all-conquering Spain team, announced his retirement from football on Tuesday at the age of 40.
Iniesta announced that his time on the pitch was over while expressing his inability to stay away from football, which he considers his life.
He emphasized the need to continue his education, as he is currently pursuing his coaching diploma, viewing it as the next step in his career. Iniesta also mentioned that he would try to return to make a significant impact, but that it would be from another place, not by running after the ball.
Iniesta came up through Barcelona's famed 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.
Iniesta formed a devastating midfield with Xavi Hernandez and Sergio Busquets, becoming the standard-bearers of the "tiki-taka" style of football that catapulted both club and country to new heights.
He played alongside the likes of Lionel Messi, Neymar, Samuel Eto'o and Luis Suarez for Barcelona, who captured the treble in 2009 under Pep Guardiola and again six years later with Luis Enrique in charge.
Messi paid tribute to Iniesta on social media and called him "one of the most magical teammates", while Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said he had given “society an example of what a professional athlete is.”
His greatest moment came in the 2010 World Cup final in Johannesburg, when he scored the winning goal for Spain against the Netherlands in extra time.
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.
Iniesta conveyed his desire to return to Barcelona at some point, noting that it wasn't just a statement, but a genuine wish, because those who had a significant influence should be part of the club. He added that he would be delighted to contribute in a different role, applying what he did as a player.
Barcelona praised the retiring Iniesta in a post on the club's X account.
“Iniesta, your football will live on forever.”
With AFP
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