'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

Iniesta is calling time on his illustrious career 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.

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.

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.”

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Iniesta officially announced his retirement at a special farewell event in Barcelona on October 8. There had been talk of Iniesta reuniting with Messi at Inter Miami – 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.