Spanish football icon Andrés Iniesta has announced his impending retirement from football at the age of 40.
The midfield maestro, best remembered for scoring Spain’s historic World Cup-winning goal in 2010, has decided to hang up his boots after months as a free agent, with the official announcement set for October 8.
Iniesta who last played for Emirates FC, earned 131 caps for Spain, winning the 2010 World Cup and two European Championships in 2008 and 2012.
His Barcelona career was equally remarkable, amassing four Champions League titles, nine La Liga trophies, and countless other accolades.
He made 674 appearances for the Catalan club, scoring 57 goals and providing 135 assists.
After leaving Barcelona in 2018, Iniesta played for Vissel Kobe in Japan and then moved to Dubai, concluding his career with 1,016 total matches, 107 goals and 191 assists.