Andrés Iniesta, the former Barcelona and Spain midfielder, revealed his retirement on Tuesday after an illustrious 24-year career. The 40-year-old was a pivotal figure in the midfield for both his club and country during a dominant era in the late 2000s and early 2010s.
“Please allow me to be a little emotional today,” a tearful Iniesta said at a press conference, having most recently played for the Emirates Club in the UAE. “I never thought this day would come. I never imagined it. These tears are ones of emotion and pride, not sadness.
“They are the tears of a boy from a small town like Fuentealbilla who dreamed of becoming a footballer. We made that dream come true through hard work, sacrifice, and perseverance—values that are essential to me. I am incredibly proud of this journey, and of all the people who have shared it with me.”
Known for his exceptional technical skills, Iniesta earned 131 caps for Spain and famously scored the winning goal in extra time during the 2010 World Cup final, securing Spain’s first-ever title with a victory over the Netherlands. He was also instrumental in Spain’s 2008 European Championship win, which ended a 44-year title drought, and was named player of the tournament when they defended the title in 2012.
With Barcelona, Iniesta collected nine La Liga titles, four Champions League trophies, six Copa del Rey wins, two Super Cups, and three Club World Cup titles. Many of these triumphs were alongside Xavi Hernández, another contender for the title of Spain’s greatest-ever footballer.
Lionel Messi, Iniesta’s former Barcelona teammate, praised him on social media, saying, “One of the most magical teammates and one of those I most enjoyed playing with. Andrés Iniesta, the ball will miss you, and so will we! I wish you all the best—you are a phenomenon.”
A runner-up for the 2010 Ballon d’Or behind Messi, Iniesta ended his career with Barcelona and the Spanish national team in 2018, moving to Japan to play for Vissel Kobe.
Born in Fuentealbilla, a small town southeast of Madrid, Iniesta joined Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy at the age of 12. He went on to make 674 appearances for the club, captaining them for three seasons.
One year before becoming Spain’s World Cup hero, Iniesta delivered a stunning performance in the 2009 Champions League semi-final against Chelsea, where his late goal in stoppage time sent Barça to the final, which they ultimately won, marking Pep Guardiola’s first Champions League victory as a coach.