Messi Pays Tribute to Retiring Legend Iniesta: “The Ball Will Miss You”
Argentine football legend Lionel Messi has penned a heartfelt tribute to his former Barcelona teammate Andres Iniesta, who recently announced his retirement from professional football. Messi and Iniesta were instrumental in Barcelona’s golden era, where they dominated European football and won numerous trophies together.
Their on-field chemistry was impeccable, with Iniesta often providing pinpoint passes to Messi, who would then convert them into goals. Iniesta, who scored the World Cup-winning goal for Spain in 2010, retired on October 8, a number associated with him throughout his career as he wore the number 8 jersey.
Messi, an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, took to Instagram to express his admiration for Iniesta, with whom he shared countless memorable moments on the field. “One of the teammates with the most magic and one of the ones I enjoyed playing with the most,” Messi wrote. “Andres Iniesta, the ball will miss you and so will we! I wish you the best, always. You are a phenomenon.”
Iniesta left Barcelona in 2018 after making 674 appearances for the club, having come through their La Masia academy. Messi and Iniesta played together at La Masia and went on to conquer European football after breaking into the Barcelona senior team.
There were rumors that Iniesta might reunite with Messi at Inter Miami, where several of their former Barcelona teammates, including Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, and Luis Suarez, currently play. However, that move did not materialize.
Meanwhile, Major League Soccer is eagerly anticipating Messi’s MLS Cup playoff debut, although his Inter Miami CF team’s opponent is yet to be determined. Inter Miami, who clinched their first Supporters’ Shield with a 3-2 win against the Columbus Crew, will play their first postseason match on October 25 at their home ground in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The full MLS Cup playoff bracket will be announced on October 19, the final day of the regular season. Messi, now 37, joined MLS in July 2023 after a successful stint with Paris Saint-Germain. Inter Miami won the League Cup title but failed to qualify for the MLS Cup playoffs. The Supporters’ Shield is Messi’s 46th career trophy.