Lionel Messi sends touching tribute as 'phenomenon' Andres Iniesta retires (original) (raw)

Spain and Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta has called time on his playing career at the age of 40, with former club colleague Lionel Messi leading the tributes to the midfielder

Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta together at Barcelona

Lionel Messi has paid tribute to Barcelona and Spain hero Andres Iniesta after the 40-year-old called time on his career.

Iniesta was a team-mate of Messi's for each of his four Champions League triumphs with Barca, in 2006, 2009, 2011 and 2015. He also scored the winning goal for Spain in the 2010 World Cup final and won two European Championships titles with La Roja.

The diminutive midfielder left Camp Nou in 2018, spending five seasons in Japan with Vissel Kobe and joining Emirates Club in the UAE last season. He scored five league goals last season, but was unable to save the club from relegation.

After taking stock of his career, Iniesta chose to officially hang up his boots on Monday. Tributes have poured in from across the footballing world, with Messi's words emphasising just how highly he was regarded.

“One of the teammates with the most magic and one of those I enjoyed playing with the most," Messi wrote on social media. “The ball is going to miss you, and so will all of us. I wish you the best always, you’re a phenomenon."

Iniesta announced his retirement with an emotional video, which he captioned: 'The game goes on'. It featured tributes from a number of former Barcelona managers, including Luis Enrique, Louis van Gaal and Pep Guardiola.

"Do you know what it reflects to me?" said Luis Enrique, who played with Iniesta at Camp Nou before managing Barcelona. "It reflects what we felt when we were kids on the street, when your mother called you, after dark, when you could no longer see the ball, [shouting] 'come here, come here' - that's Andres Iniesta."

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Lionel Messi paid tribute to Andres Iniesta on Instagram

Iniesta played in Japan and the UAE after leaving Barcelona (

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Iniesta was a key part of Guardiola's dominant Barcelona team, along with Messi, Xavi and other homegrown stars. It was the manager's first time in charge of a senior side, though, and he reflected on how Iniesta helped him out after a tough start.

Xavi has already long retired, beginning his journey as a manager. Messi is still going, though, with the youngest of the three men enjoying a spell at Inter Miami in the twilight of his career - 16 years after Guardiola's managerial tenure began with a defeat and a draw.

"Having one of the most important talents that was Andres, at that moment, we had just one point from six and were almost on relegation," Guardiola reflected, "When a player like Andres tells you that you are on the right path, people are happy.

"Everything will be fine, it will be fine. Wow. It gave me the boost of energy to keep going. I will always be grateful, very much so."

Barcelona's great rivals Real Madrid also shared a tribute. "Following Andrés Iniesta's announcement that he will retire from professional football, Real Madrid CF, its president and its Board of Directors wish to express their recognition, admiration and affection for one of the great legends of Spanish and world football," it read.

"Andrés Iniesta has contributed to the greatness of the sport with his football and his values, beyond the numerous titles he has won during his career. His iconic goal in the final of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa will remain forever in the memory of all Spanish fans.
Real Madrid wishes him and his entire family the best of luck in this new stage of his life."

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