Andres Iniesta’s glowing Celtic tribute as Spanish footballing icon announces plan to retire

One of the game’s most celebrated players has announced that he will hang up his boots for good next week at the age of 40

According to Andres Iniesta, he will declare his retirement from the NFL next week.

In honor of the number he wore on the back of his shirt throughout his trophy-filled career, the renowned former Spain and Barcelona player will formally put up his boots on Tuesday, October 8. The 40-year-old won an incredible 35 major championships between 2005 and 2023, including four Champions Leagues, one World Cup, two European Championships, and nine La Liga trophies. He left UAE club Emirates last summer after five years in Japan with Vissel Kobe.

The playmaker – who bagged the winning goal for Spain in the 2010 World Cup final in South Africa – played alongside Xavi and Sergio Busquets at Barcelona in what is widely regarded as the greatest midfield trio of all time, all of whom complemented Argentine superstar Lionel Messi in attack at the Camp Nou.

During his remarkable 16-year tenure at Barcelona, Iniesta faced Celtic seven times and emerged victorious seven times, including a 7-0 thumping of the Bhoys in 2016. However, the highly regarded midfield player was also a member of the Barcelona team that lost shockingly 2-1 at Parkhead during the 2012–13 campaign’s group stage. Victor had scored two goals in as many games to give the Hoops a 2-0 advantage.

The following season, Iniesta played in what would be his last match at Parkhead. The Celtic supporters applauded him as he left the field to be replaced in a match that ended with a goal from Cesc Fabregas separating the two teams. When questioned about some of the best venues he had the opportunity to play at during his legendary career, the suave Spanish legend subsequently revealed how much he enjoyed playing at Celtic Park.

“I’ll never forget playing against Celtic, too,” he remarked. It has one of the nicest atmospheres on the planet. It was always really intense every time I had the good fortune to perform there. Playing in the midst of such enormous cacophony was an honor.”