Messi Pens Heartfelt Tribute as Andres Iniesta Confirms Retirement

Lionel Messi shared an emotional tribute to his former Barcelona teammate Andrés Iniesta after the Spanish midfielder announced his retirement on Monday (Oct 7). Iniesta retires as one of football’s all-time greats, with a career that includes triumphs in the FIFA World Cup, Euro 2008 and 2012, and numerous club titles such as the Champions League and La Liga. Messi and Iniesta formed a formidable partnership during their time together at the Catalan club.

“One of the most magical teammates and one of those I enjoyed playing with the most. The ball will miss you, and so will we… I wish you the best always. You’re a phenomenon,” Messi wrote in an Instagram story.

Between 2005 and 2018, Messi and Iniesta shared the same dressing room, helping Barcelona achieve remarkable success. They lifted the Champions League trophy four times during this period and also won two historic trebles in 2009 and 2015, showcasing their dominance. During Pep Guardiola’s managerial tenure from 2008 to 2012, Barcelona reached the Champions League semifinals in each edition and clinched the title in 2009 and 2011.

Barcelona also secured four La Liga titles during this era, and their core players—including Iniesta—played a significant role in the Spanish national team’s success. A standout moment for Iniesta was his crucial last-minute goal against Chelsea in the 2009 Champions League semifinal at Stamford Bridge.

A year later, Iniesta cemented his legacy by scoring the winning goal in the 2010 FIFA World Cup final against the Netherlands, creating unforgettable history. He also played a key role in Spain’s Euro 2008 and Euro 2012 victories. In 2012, he was part of the Spanish team that popularized the “False-9” formation while playing tiki-taka football, which Barcelona also showcased at the club level.