The Barcelona legend took to social media on Monday afternoon to post an emotional farewell video, which officially confirms his retirement from the game.
The 40-year-old Spaniard spent his last six years at Japanese club Vissel Kobe and United Arab Emirates club Emirates in the UAE Pro League. He was at Vissel Kobe from 2018 to 2023, ultimately leaving mid way through the season in order to get regular playing time. Despite his early departure that season, Vissel Kobe went on the win the league for the first time just a few months later. Iniesta would receive a medal for this league win due to him playing four matches in the season, adding yet another title under his already-decorated belt.
Iniesta is best known for his time at Barcelona, where he and the likes of Lionel Messi, Busquets and Xavi Hernandez collected accolade after accolade. He played over 600 times for the Catalan club, scoring 57 goals in all competitions. At Barcelona, he won nine La Liga titles, six Copa del Rey titles, and four UEFA Champions Leagues.
The emotional video posted to social media shows him sitting in a chair, presumably being interviewed by somebody. The person asks “What does football mean to you?” Iniesta pauses while getting choked up and wiping tears away, before responding “For me, football has been…” before cutting away and showing his former coaches (such as Pep Guardiola, Louis van Gaal, and Luis Enrique) all saying just how much of a professional Iniesta was.
The former midfielder has been described as one of the most intelligent footballers of all time, effortlessly gliding and dribbling through midfield. He also had a considerable clutch gene, garnering multiple Man of the Match awards in high-stakes, high-pressure matches — such as his 93rd-minute goal in the Champions League semifinal against Chelsea in 2009, where Barcelona needed a goal to advance. Undoubtedly, Iniesta has inspired and will continue to inspire generations to come.
