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    Andres Iniesta announces retirement from football aged 40

    Emma TeeBy Updated:No Comments3 Mins Read

    • Andres Iniesta brings the curtain down on 24-year professional career in football, aged 40

    Andres Iniesta announces retirement from football aged 40
    Andres Iniesta announces retirement from football aged 40

    Legendary former Barcelona and Spain midfielder Andrés Iniesta has officially announced his retirement from football at the age of 40.

    Iniesta, who famously scored the winning goal in the 2010 FIFA World Cup final against the Netherlands, was a central figure for both his club and country, known for his exceptional technical ability and vision on the pitch.

    Emerging in the early 2000s, Iniesta became a key part of Barcelona’s iconic midfield, forming a formidable partnership with Xavi.

    His elegant style and intelligence made him one of the world’s finest players, and his career was marked by immense success. At Barcelona, he won four Champions League titles and nine La Liga titles, while with Spain, he was instrumental in their victories at the 2008 and 2012 European Championships and the 2010 World Cup.

    Many believed his performances in 2010 would earn him the Ballon d’Or, but his Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi claimed the award, with Iniesta finishing second. Two years later, he secured another third-place finish in the prestigious award.

    After leaving Barcelona in 2018, Iniesta extended his career with a five-year stint at Japan’s Vissel Kobe before playing a season with Emirates Club in the UAE.

    In an emotional farewell speech, Iniesta reflected on his career, saying: “I never thought this day would come. I never imagined it. These tears we shed are tears of emotion, pride—not sadness. They are the tears of a boy from Fuentealbilla, who dreamt of being a footballer, and we achieved it through hard work and sacrifice.”

    He expressed gratitude for his journey, saying: “I feel happy to have achieved my dream. My sporting career has been like a fairy tale, filled with incredible experiences. It started on the small fields of my hometown and took me to Barcelona, the club that helped me fulfill my dream.”

    Iniesta also spoke fondly of his time at Barcelona’s famed academy, La Masia, and his family, who supported him from the beginning: “La Masia changed me forever, and I am grateful to everyone who helped shape my journey. Coming to Barcelona at 12 years old was a dream that I worked hard to fulfill.”

    His retirement marks the end of a truly remarkable football career, leaving behind a legacy of excellence, humility, and unforgettable moments on the pitch.

     

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    Andres Iniesta career honours 🏆

    Team

    • 1 x FIFA World Cup (2010)
    • 2 x UEFA European Championship (2008, 2012)
    • 4 x UEFA Champions League (2005/2006, 2008/09, 2010/11, 2014/15)
    • 9 x La Liga (2004/05, 2005/06, 2008/09, 2009/10, 2010/11, 2012/13, 2014/15, 2015/16, 2017/18)
    • 3 x FIFA Club World Cup (2009, 2011, 2015)
    • 2 x UEFA Super Cup (2011, 2015)
    • 6 x Copa del Rey (2008/09, 2011/12, 2014/15, 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18)
    • 5 x SuperCopa de Espana (2005, 2006, 2011, 2013, 2016)
    • 1 x J League (2023)
    • 1 x Japanese Super Cup (2019)
    • 1 x Emperor’s Cup (2020)

    Individual

    • 1 x Ballon d’Or runner-up (2010)
    • 1 x FIFA World Cup Dream Team (2010)
    • 2 x UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament (2008, 2012)
    • 6 x UEFA Team of the Year (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016)