Messi Reacts To Andreas Iniesta Retirement: Legendary footballer Lionel Messi took to social media and shared a heartwarming message after fellow Barcelona legend Andreas Iniesta announced his retirement from football.
Iniesta is an absolute icon of the game. Having risen to the very top of the football world for both club and country, the Spaniard is considered one of the greatest midfielders not only of his generation but of all time.
The 40-year-old played a whopping 674 games for the Blaugrana, scoring 57 goals and assisting 135. His ability to plan a play and create chances was second to none. He created what many considered to be the greatest midfield partnership in the history of the sport alongside former Barca manager Xavi.
If we sit down and count all of Iniesta’s career achievements, it would take all day. The legendary baller is a nine-time La Liga winner, a four-time UEFA Champions League winner, a World Cup winner, and a Euros winner. He was named in the FiFPro World 11 for nine years in a row from 2009 to 2017, won countless team and individual trophies, and scored the only goal in the 2010 FIFA World Cup final.
In 2010, Andreas finished second in the Ballon d’Or rankings behind Messi. Many believe that he should have won the prestigious award that season.
Messi Reacts To Andreas Iniesta Retirement
Speaking of Lionel Messi, the partnership he formed with Andreas Iniesta was absolutely legendary. The amount of times Iniesta assisted a Messi goal is too much to count. The two were among the greatest to ever do it on the field, and friends off it.
Iniesta, after spending the last seven seasons of his career playing for Vissel Kobe in the J-league and Emirates in the UAE Pro League, announced his retirement during a special event in Barcelona at the age of 40. He addressed the news in this video:
So, of course, Messi had to react to the news of his dear friend’s retirement. In a story posted on his Instagram page, the Argentine GOAT posted a picture of him and Iniesta celebrating together in Barcelona. In a caption written in Spanish, Lionel wrote this:
“One of the teammates with the most magic and of the ones I enjoyed playing together the most. Andres Iniesta, the ball will miss you, and so will we! I wish you the best, always. You are a phenomenon,” translated from Spanish.
Right before the retirement, there were reports that the two former Barca legends could reunite at Inter Miami. But it now seems that Andreas Iniesta will turn his attention towards coaching.
Check Out: Andres Iniesta retirement: Player Announces In A Press Conference
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