“The ball will miss you” Spain’s World Cup hero Iniesta announces retirement
October 8, 2024, 8:31 a.m
Andres Iniesta is one of the most successful football players of our time, the Spaniard becomes world and European champion, and he shapes an era at FC Barcelona. Now a great career ends. Superstar Lionel Messi pays tribute to the midfielder, and FC Bayern also congratulates him on an “extraordinary career”.
The former Spanish world and European champion Andres Iniesta has announced the end of his career. In a more than two-minute video that he published on social media, his former coaches Pep Guardiola, Vicente del Bosque and Louis van Gaal, among others, have their say. They all pay tribute to Iniesta’s achievements, character and talent. The video ends with the words “El juego continua” (the game continues), linked to the date October 8th, 2024.
Messi paid tribute to his long-time teammate with warm words. “One of the teammates with the most magic and one of the ones I enjoyed playing with the most,” the Argentine wrote alongside a shared photo on Instagram. “The ball will miss you, and so will we all. I always wish you the best, you are a phenomenon,” added world champion Messi, who shaped an era together with Iniesta. Among other things, they won the Champions League four times together and became Spanish champions nine times.
In 2018, Iniesta left Barcelona and moved to Vissel Kobe in Japan, where he played with Lukas Podolski, among others. In August 2023 he moved to the United Arab Emirates to Emirates Club, where his contract expired at the end of June. German record champions Bayern Munich, among others, congratulated Iniesta on an “extraordinary football career” and wished the Spaniard “all the best for the future”.
The Curtain Closes: Andres Iniesta’s Legendary Career Comes to an End
The world of football mourns as Spanish football legend Andres Iniesta announced his retirement from the beautiful game. This news has sent shockwaves across the globe, leaving fans and fellow players alike to pay tribute to the midfield maestro [[1]]. Iniesta, a name synonymous with the Spanish national team and Barcelona, has hung up his boots after an illustrious 22-year career at the top level.
Rumors of Iniesta’s retirement had been circulating for some time, and recently, an emotional social media post hinted at his impending decision [[2]]. The news was later confirmed by the player himself, bringing an end to a storied career that saw him conquer the heights of both club and international football.
Andres Iniesta is a name that will forever be etched in the annals of football history. With four Champions League titles, numerous La Liga crowns, and a World Cup winner’s medal to his name, Iniesta has achieved unparalleled success. His vision, technique, and ability to control the tempo of the game made him a joy to watch, and his influence on the game will be deeply missed [[3]].
As tributes pour in from across the globe, one phrase resonates loudly: “The ball will miss you.” Iniesta’s departure leaves a void in the beautiful game, a reminder that all good things must come to an end. As we bid farewell to an incredible career, we cannot help but feel grateful for the countless memories he has left us with. Andres Iniesta, you will be deeply missed, but your legacy will forever be etched in the hearts of football fans worldwide.
In the words of the great man himself, we can only say: the ball will, indeed, miss you, Andres.
