Andres Iniesta has announced his retirement from soccer at the age of 40.
“Please allow me to be a little emotional today …” a tearful Iniesta, who most recently played for Emirates Club in the United Arab Emirates, told a press conference. “I never thought this day would come. I never imagined it. Yes, all these tears we have shed these days are tears of emotion, of pride. They are not tears of sadness.
“They are tears of that boy from a small town like Fuentealbilla, who had the dream of being a footballer and we achieved it after a lot of hard work, sacrifice … of never giving up, essential values in my life. I feel very proud of this path, with all the people who have accompanied me.”
Iniesta made 131 appearances for Spain and scored the only goal of the 2010 World Cup final to defeat Netherlands. Iniesta was also critical in Spain\'s wins in the Euros in 2008 and 2012.
Iniesta won nine La Liga titles with Barça, four Champions League titles, six Copa del Rey crowns, two Super Cups and three Club World Cups, many of them alongside Xavi Hernandez. Either Iniesta or Xavi are widely considered to be the greatest players in Spain\'s history.
Via The Guardian