Spain and Barcelona great, Andres Iniesta has retired from playing football at the age of 40.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest players to ever play the game, Iniesta earned 131 caps for his country, scoring the winning goal in the 2010 Fifa World Cup final.
He also won the European Championship in 2008 and 2012 with Barcelona, and formed an enviable midfield partnerships with Xavi Hernandez and Sergio Busquets in those days.
“I never thought this day would come. I never imagined it,” he said.
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“Yes, all these tears we have shed these days are tears of emotion, of pride.
“They are not tears of sadness. They are tears of that boy from a small town like Fuentealbilla, who had the dream of being a footballer and we achieved it after a lot of hard work, sacrifice, of never giving up, essential values in my life.”
Iniesta spent the majority of his 22-year career at Barcelona after graduating from the club’s La Masia academy, but is calling it quits after playing for Japanese side Vissel Kobe and UAE Pro League side Emirates.
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