The Spanish legend retired today
Andres Iniesta is regarded as one of the greatest midfielders to ever play the game and retired from professional football today.
An official announcement is expected from the player next week.
The iconic midfielder won it all during a trophy-laden career that saw him win the 2010 World Cup and the Euros on two occasions with Spain.
Meanwhile, with Barcelona he won four Champions Leagues, nine La Liga titles, six Copa del Reys as well as a host of other accolades.
Iniesta played 674 games for Barcelona scoring 57 times and assisting 135 while also making 131 appearances for Spain.
The Spanish hero left Barca in 2018, heading to Japan where he played over 100 times for Vissel Kobe during a five-year stint.
Most recently Iniesta was playing for Emirates Club in the UAE, where he stayed for one season before deciding to retire.
Tributes have poured in for the midfielder who won it all, with many posted videos of his World Cup winning goal from 2010.
In the 116th minute, the technical Spanish midfielder smashed home to all but win the World Cup for his nation wheeling off to celebrate in emotive style.
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Iniesta tore off his shirt to reveal a message written in Spanish written in large across a white underlayer.
This picture is iconic and so is the message, but not everyone knows what it means.
In fact, the story behind it is quiet a sad one.
The shirt read in Spanish “Dani Jarque siempre com nosotros,” which translates to “Dani Jarque always with us.
This message was in honour of Iniesta’s late friend Dani Jarque who sadly died from a heart attack at the age of 26.
The picture has become one of the most iconic of all time meaning, despite the tragic circumstances, Iniesta was able to immortalise the memory his close friend through scoring the most important goal in his country’s history.
