Lionel Messi has expressed a heartfelt tribute to Andrés Iniesta as the spanish icon prepares for retirement.
Lionel Messi shared a touching message and a nostalgic photo to himself and Andrés Iniesta from their Barcelona days on social media ahead of Iniesta’s anticipated retirement from professional football.

The Argentine captain and former Barça teammate posted the tribute on his Instagram stories while in camp with Argentina, preparing for their South American Qualifiers match against Venezuela.

In his message, Messi praised iniesta, calling him “one of the most magical teammates” and adding, “The ball will miss you, so will all of us. I wish you the best always; you are phenomenal.” The heartfelt note accompanied a photo of the two during their time at Barcelona.

Although Andrés Iniesta has not officially announced his retirement, speculation continues to grow after the release of a trailer for his upcoming documentary, The Game Continues, which premiers this Tuesday.

In the trailer, a tearful Iniesta reflects on his long football career, which has spanned 22 years. The documentary features tributes from prominent figures in the football world, including Pep Guardiola, Louis Van Gaal, Vincente del Bosque, and Luis Enrique, who praise Iniesta’s legendary contributions to sport.
To read more stories like this, click sports.