Sergio Busquets, one of the defining midfielders of modern football, has announced he will retire at the end of the current Major League Soccer season.
The 37-year-old Spaniard, now with Inter Miami, shared the news in a video message on Instagram. Reflecting on nearly two decades at the highest level, he said it was the right moment to step away.
“I feel like it’s time to say goodbye to my career as a professional footballer,” Busquets said. “It has been almost 20 years of enjoying this incredible story that I always dreamed of. Football has gifted me unique experiences in wonderful places, with the best companions.”
Busquets leaves behind a remarkable record. At Barcelona, the club where he came through the ranks, he made more than 700 appearances. He won multiple La Liga titles, three Champions League trophies and countless domestic honours. His calm presence and positional sense made him indispensable, particularly during Pep Guardiola’s era of dominance.
Internationally, Busquets anchored Spain’s midfield during its most successful period. He was part of the side that won Euro 2008, the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012 — a rare treble that defined a generation.
In 2023, after leaving Barcelona, he joined Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba at Inter Miami. Together, they helped reshape the young club’s fortunes. Busquets played a key role in Miami’s first major trophy, the Leagues Cup in 2023, and in the Supporters’ Shield the following year, when the team set a league record for most points in a season.
His farewell will come as his contract expires. With Miami already through to the playoffs, Busquets has at least one more chance to lift silverware before he steps away.
He thanked the clubs and teammates who shaped his career. “Thank you to FC Barcelona, the club of my life,” he said. “Thank you to the Spain national team. Thank you to Inter Miami for letting me be part of a new and growing club.”
He also paid tribute to fans worldwide. “The best thing I take away is you all. Thanks for the love and respect. I hope I was able to give back a small part of everything you’ve meant to me,” he said.
Busquets ends his career not just with medals, but with a reputation as one of football’s great orchestrators — a player who rarely sought the spotlight, yet defined the rhythm of the game.
About the Author
