Former Spain and Barcelona captain Sergio Busquets has announced that he will retire from football at the end of the Major League Soccer season in December. The Inter Miami midfielder, now 38, will close the chapter on a decorated career that has spanned almost two decades.
Busquets is widely regarded as one of the best holding midfielders of his generation. During his 18 years at Barcelona, he won 32 major honours, including nine La Liga titles and three Champions League trophies. His tally of 722 appearances for the Catalan giants is the third highest in the club’s history.
On the international stage, Busquets made 143 appearances for Spain between 2009 and 2022. He was part of the golden era that saw Spain lift the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa and the 2012 European Championship. He retired from international football in December 2022 as Spain’s third-highest appearance maker.
In 2023, Busquets joined Inter Miami, reuniting with his former Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba, and Luis Suarez. Together, the quartet has played a key role in lifting the profile of both the club and Major League Soccer.
In a farewell video posted on social media, Busquets reflected on his career with gratitude. “I feel like the time has come to say goodbye to my career as a professional footballer. It’s been almost 20 years of enjoying this incredible story I always dreamed of,” he said. “I’m retiring very happy, proud, fulfilled, and above all, grateful. Thank you all very much, see you soon.”
Busquets began his Barcelona journey in 2005 as a youth player before making his first-team debut in 2008 under then-manager Pep Guardiola in a La Liga match against Racing Santander. His ability to dictate play, read the game, and provide defensive stability became a hallmark of both Barcelona and Spain’s most successful years.
Inter Miami recently secured their spot in the MLS play-offs with a 4-0 win over New York City FC. The play-offs, involving 18 teams, will begin on 22 October and conclude with the MLS Cup final on 6 December, marking the final chapter of Busquets’ playing career.
His retirement will bring an end to one of football’s most consistent and decorated careers, leaving behind a legacy of leadership, composure, and success at the highest level.
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