Lionel Messi's heartfelt message for Andres Iniesta following his retirement

Andres Iniesta announced his retirement from football on October 8, 2024. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest midfielders of his generation, and possibly of all time. Lately, he has been playing in Japanese leagues and the UAE.

Iniesta spent the majority of his club career with FC Barcelona, making 674 appearances for the team before departing in 2018. He is remembered for his exceptional contributions to FC Barcelona's midfield, where he formed a formidable partnership with Lionel Messi, leaving an indelible mark on the football world.

Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta were undoubtedly the best technical players in FC Barcelona during their time, effortlessly showcasing their mastery of the sport. Andres Iniesta wholeheartedly dedicated himself to the game before ultimately retiring at the age of 40.

Teaming up with fellow club academy graduates Lionel Messi, Xavi Hernandez, and Sergio Busquets, Iniesta played a pivotal role in what is widely regarded as one of the greatest teams of all time.

Pep Guardiola's 2008-12 Barcelona side is indisputably considered one of the best in history, with Iniesta standing out as a remarkable performer.

Messi's heartfelt message for Iniesta 

He took a moment from his schedule to honour his former colleague Andres Iniesta, who was retiring. Messi shared a heartfelt tribute on Instagram, reflecting on their journey from their days at La Masia. He posted a photo of the two of them together, reminiscing about the "magical moments" they shared at Camp Nou.

He described Iniesta as a Magician, a player he enjoyed playing with the most. Messi felt the world of football was going to miss Iniesta and asserted that he was always going to be the phenomenon.

“One of the teammates with the most magic and one of those I enjoyed playing with the most. The ball is going to miss you, and so will all of us...I wish you the best always. You’re a phenomenon,” Messi's story read.

The Spanish Maestro has a World Cup, a Euro Cup and a treble to his name.