Barcelona legend, World Cup winner to retire after Inter Miami season

Barcelona legend Sergio Busquets has announced that he will retire from football at the end of the current Major League Soccer season.

The 36-year-old was synonymous with Barcelona's tiki-taka style for 15 years before signing for Inter Miami in 2023, the only other club he will play for, as he will retire a Heron.
Emotional farewell
Reports have filtered through in the past few weeks that the legendary Spanish midfielder who defined what it meant to be a single-pivot in the most recent football era was contemplating retirement.

In the early hours of this morning (WAT), he published an emotional video on his social media, affirming that he would be hanging up his boots after the MLS season.

"Hello everyone, I feel like the time has come to say goodbye to my career as a professional football player,ÔÇØ he shared in an Instagram video. "It has been almost 20 years enjoying this incredible story that I always dreamed of.

"Football has given me unique experiences in wonderful places with the best travel companions. I have very happy memories from my childhood. From Badia to Barca reserve teams passing through Barbera, Lleida and Jabac.

"Thanks to Barcelona, my club for life. It was there that I fulfilled my childhood dreams by wearing that shirt I loved for hundreds of games, celebrated a lot of titles, and experienced moments at Camp Nou I will never forget.

"Thanks to the Spanish national team. It was an honor to represent the team so many times and share achievements that will always remain in my heart. Thanks to Inter Miami for letting me be part of a new and growing team where I wanted to live a new experience and contribute my part.

"Thanks to all my teammates and staff with whom I shared so many incredible moments. The best thing I take is all of you. Thanks for all the fans around the world for their love and respect. I hope I have given you a small part of what you have meant to me.

"Thanks for my family who accompanied me to all the fields to help me reach my dreams. Thanks to my wife and children, the pillars of my life, always by my side in good and bad times. I retire happy, proud, fulfilled, and above all, grateful.ÔÇØ
A legendary career
Busquets was promoted to the Barcelona first team by Pep Guardiola in 2008 and he quickly gained prominence, starting in the UCL triumph over Manchester United later that season. He went on to win two more Champions League titles in his career.

Including the Supporters Shield title with Inter Miami last season, Busquets has won 10 league titles (nine in LALIGA); 7 Copa del Reys; 7 Supercopa de Espa├▒a; 3 UEFA Super Cups; 3 Club World Cups and the one Leagues Cup.

The 34 trophies he won in his club career are legendary enough, but Busquets was also remarkably successful with the Spanish national team. He won the World Cup in 2010, the EUROS in 2012, and captained the team to a silver medal in the 2020/21 Nations League campaign.