Two months after announcing his retirement in Barcelona, Spanish football legend Andres Iniesta said goodbye to his rich playing career on Sunday in Tokyo in an exhibition match between former famous teams Barcelona and Real Madrid.
In front of more than 45,000 fans in Tokyo, Iniesta showed the latest football moves and tricks, which enabled him to win the EURO twice (2008, 2012) and the World Cup once (2010).
He made sure he left in style by slotting in a last-minute cross that was diverted by Real Madrid’s defense into his own net to give the Catalan rivals a 2-1 victory.
Iniesta played in Tokyo with his former midfield partner Xavi Hernandez, but also Rivaldo, Rafael Marquez and Javier Saviola in the Barcelona team. Roberto Carlos, Fabio Cannavaro, Raul and Iker Casillas were part of the Real team.
– I think it was a great game for the Japanese fans – said Iniesta, who ended his career at Vissel Kobe five years after leaving Barcelona in 2018.
Iniesta won a total of 32 trophies with Barça, including four Champions Leagues (2006, 2009, 2011, 2015) and nine national championship titles (Liga), which he shared with Lionel Messi. who was his teammateč most of the season. After 16 seasons in Barca, and then ending his career in Japan and the Emirates, “Don Andres” will now, at the age of 40, start his coaching career.
“I’m thinking about getting a coaching diploma and I want to see where my career will take me”.