Andres Iniesta, one of many architects of Spain’s tiki-taka playing style, introduced his retirement from soccer earlier this week, prompting scores of tributes from his former teammates, foes and coaches.
By a video on X, Iniesta stated he “by no means imagined” the day would come when he’d be strolling away from his past love, and that each one the tears he shed had been “of delight, not disappointment.” The enduring midfielder added that his story — of a boy from a small city like Fuentealbilla turning into a legend —was a testomony to years of exhausting work, sacrifice and “by no means giving up important values” of life.
Lionel Messi — who received 4 Champions League titles and 9 La Liga titles with Iniesta at Barcelona — took to social media to pay tribute to his former teammate.
“One of many teammates with probably the most magic and one of many ones I loved enjoying with probably the most. Andres Iniesta, the ball will miss you and so will all of us. I want you one of the best, at all times. You’re a phenomenon,” Messi wrote.
English icon Paul Scholes — whose Manchester United lost to Iniesta’s Barcelona in two Champions League finals in 2009 and 2011 — sarcastically wrote that he wished Iniesta “shared the ball a bit extra” as a substitute of selecting aside his crew’s defensive formations together with his wizardry.
Pep Guardiola recalled an anecdote from 2008 when the Catalans misplaced to Numancia and weren’t on the extent of reigning La Liga winners Actual Madrid. On the time, there have been murmurs about Barca firing Guardiola from the job after only one season as supervisor. All that modified after Iniesta’s locker room pep discuss.
“I believed, ‘Wow,'” Guardiola said recalling Iniesta’s pep discuss. “It gave me an enormous enhance of vitality to maintain going. I’ll at all times be grateful to him for that, as a result of I felt like what he stated was from his coronary heart, not jut to please me. And that helped not simply me, however [assistant coach] Tito [Vilanova] and everybody who was with us.”
Iniesta’s greatness transcended sports activities, as evidenced by basketball legend Pau Gasol’s message.
“You’ve left an indelible mark on all of us, not solely on your expertise however for the particular person you might be. With humility and respect, at all times. I want you one of the best on this new stage, my good friend,” wrote the ex-Laker.
Loads of different soccer stars chimed in as properly.
“Day to rejoice your profession @andresiniesta8. We’ll miss your high quality and class within the discipline…It was a pleasure enjoying with you! Hope to see you quickly bro,” Brazilian nice Ronaldinho wrote.
“Be happy with the whole lot you gave to soccer, Andriu! I had the privilege of getting performed with among the best midfielders in historical past! Soccer will miss you CRACK! Good luck for the whole lot to return,” Uruguayan legend Luis Suarez, who performed with Iniesta throughout his ultimate years in Barcelona, wrote.
Teenage prodigy Lamine Yamal, who helped Spain seize the 2024 Euro title, spoke of the function Iniesta performed in him falling in love with the game.
“Actually, I do not keep in mind something from the 2010 World Cup, however I keep in mind going to Camp Nou and seeing Iniesta play alongside Messi and Neymar. He made the whole lot look simple. Soccer will miss him loads,” Yamal wrote.
Iniesta, 40, retires because the only player in history to win the Man of the Match within the finals of the FIFA World Cup, Champions League and Euros. He performed a significant function in Spain’s golden period between 2008 and 2012, which included two Euro titles and the nation’s solely World Cup win in 2010.
