OFFICIAL: Andres Iniesta retires from football

Tom Weber

• Updated: 8 Oct 2024 09:56 BST
• 3 min read

Breaking

World Cup winner Andres Iniesta has decided to hang up his boots at 40 years of age.

The legendary Spain midfielder has officially announced that his storied career has come to an end after reports of his impending retirement already surfaced last week.

Iniesta has decided to quit football after suffering relegation with Emirates Club in the United Arab Emirates. His contract expired in the summer and he departed the side after just one season.

Before moving to the Gulf country, Iniesta had spent five years at Vissel Kobe in Japan, with the J1 team previously affiliated with Barcelona, the club side with which the Spaniard enjoyed his greatest success.

Iniesta had spent 22 years at Barcelona, rising through the La Masia ranks before becoming one of the club's greatest-ever players.

Iniesta retires

In Catalunya, the midfielder established himself as one of football's best midfielders and a favourite of anyone who loves the game, not just Barcelona fans.

The 40-year-old won nine LaLiga titles in the famous Blaugrana shirt as well as four Champions Leagues, being part of the Pep Guardiola side that was arguably the greatest in history.

However, Iniesta's apogee as a footballer came at the international level. The midfielder suited up 131 times for Spain and scored the winning goal in the 2010 World Cup final against the Netherlands.

Iniesta also won two European Championships with La Roja as well as a host of individual accolades. He famously finished the 2010 Ballon d'Or ranking in second behind Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi and ahead of midfield colleague Xavi.

Iniesta retired from international duty in 2018 and he is still Spain's fifth-most-capped player to date.