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<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="match-schedule">{"type":"match-schedule","data":{"channelId":"92686d1e-5985-40e1-80f3-6f5a54f55b39","competitionId":"34pl8szyvrbwcmfkuocjm3r6t"}}</script><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>World Cup winner hanging up his boots</li><li>Landed the biggest prizes in football</li><li>Many of those won alongside Messi</li></ul><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va2ivxLJJhzdzbJdwo0n"><strong>Follow GOAL on WhatsApp!</strong></a> 🟢📱</td></tr></tbody></table>

'The ball will miss you' - Lionel Messi pays tribute to 'phenomenon' Andres Iniesta as ex-Barcelona team-mate calls time on illustrious career at 40

<p>Iniesta is <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/barcelona-spain-legend-andres-iniesta-announce-retirement-football-40/blt1aaea05484d44462" target="_blank">calling time on his illustrious career</a> after gracing the very top of the game. He claimed a global crown with Spain in 2010 – scoring a legendary extra-time goal in the final against the Netherlands – and also savoured two European Championship triumphs with La Roja.</p><center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">El Juego Continúa ❤️⚽️ 8️⃣🔟2️⃣4️⃣ <a href="https://t.co/YLrDOfxVCB">pic.twitter.com/YLrDOfxVCB</a></p>— Andrés Iniesta (@andresiniesta8) <a href="https://twitter.com/andresiniesta8/status/1843299436539306352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 7, 2024</a></blockquote>
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WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>At club level, he took in 674 appearances for Barca after stepping out of their famed La Masia academy system. He won nine La Liga titles at Camp Nou and the Champions League on four occasions. He left for Japanese side Vissel Kobe in 2018 and has most recently been on the books of Emirates Club in the UAE.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>Iniesta teased his retirement in a nod towards his iconic shirt number – in a video on social media. Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi responded to that news by saying in a post of his own: “One of the team-mates with the most magic and of the one's 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.”</p><picture><source srcset="https://assets.goal.com/images/v3/blt5d748ed9509eb9ba/iniesta%20messi.jpg?format=webp" type="image/webp"><source srcset="https://assets.goal.com/images/v3/blt5d748ed9509eb9ba/iniesta%20messi.jpg?format=jpg" type="image/jpeg"><img src="https://assets.goal.com/images/v3/blt5d748ed9509eb9ba/iniesta%20messi.jpg?format=jpg" alt="Lionel Messi tribute Andres Iniesta" data-source="Instagram" data-copyright="Instagram" data-portal-copyright="Instagram" perform:prop="uuid:blt5d748ed9509eb9ba;width:439;height:711"></picture>

WHAT MESSI SAID

<p>Iniesta officially announced his retirement at a special farewell event in Barcelona on October 8. There had been talk of <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/will-andres-iniesta-join-lionel-messi-at-inter-miami-tato-martino-offers-transfer-update-barcelona/blte1d8ea2dee6e6f92" target="_blank">Iniesta reuniting with Messi at Inter Miami</a> – as he joined the group of former Barcelona stars in MLS – but no deal was done, and he will now turn his attention to coaching.</p>

WHAT NEXT FOR INIESTA?

'The ball will miss you' - Lionel Messi pays tribute to 'phenomenon' Andres Iniesta as ex-Barcelona team-mate calls time on illustrious career at 40 | Goal.com

Lionel Messi has paid tribute to former Barcelona team-mate Andres Iniesta as his fellow World Cup winner heads into retirement at the age of 40.

&apos;The ball will miss you&apos; - Lionel Messi pays tribute to &apos;phenomenon&apos; Andres Iniesta as ex-Barcelona team-mate calls time on illustrious career at 40