Former Barcelona player and current Inter Miami left-back Jordi Alba has announced that he will retire at the end of this season, bringing his remarkable 17-year professional career to a close.
The 36-year-old veteran announced on October 7 through his social media accounts, writing: “I’ve decided to end my professional football career after this season. I’ve walked this path with all my passion, and now it’s time to begin a new chapter and end this one with the best feelings.”
He added, “Football has always been, and will always be, an essential part of my life. I’ll forever be grateful for everything it has given me.”
A Glittering Barcelona Career: 17 Trophies of Glory
Between 2012 and 2023, Alba made 605 appearances for Barcelona, scoring 37 goals and providing 107 assists. During his tenure, he helped the club win 17 major trophies, including six La Liga titles and one UEFA Champions League trophy.
On the international stage, Alba achieved equal success. He helped Spain win both the UEFA European Championship and the UEFA Nations League.
As a Spanish international, Alba lifted the Euro 2012 trophy and later added the 2023 Nations League title to his achievements. Unfortunately, despite featuring in three World Cups, he never managed to claim the ultimate prize. In September 2023, he officially announced his retirement from international football.
Reunion in Miami: Writing the Final Chapter with Messi
In the summer of 2023, Alba joined Inter Miami alongside his former Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets. Together, they helped the club secure two trophies and set a new record for the highest points in a single season in Major League Soccer.
Following Busquets’ retirement last month and Rakitic’s earlier farewell, only Messi, Suárez, Neymar, and goalkeeper Ter Stegen remain active from Barcelona’s legendary 2014/15 treble-winning squad.
In that historic season, Barcelona, led by coach Luis Enrique, defeated Juventus 3–1 in the UEFA Champions League final to claim the club’s fifth European crown.
Now, with one legend after another bidding farewell, fans can’t help but feel nostalgic for the golden era of Catalan football.
Messi’s Heartfelt Tribute: I’ll Miss You So Much
After Alba’s announcement, Messi paid an emotional tribute to his longtime teammate.
“Thank you, Jordi. I’m going to miss you a lot. We’ve shared so much together. It’ll be strange to look to my left and not see you there. You’ve given me so many assists over the years, it’s wild. Now who’s going to send me those runs behind the defence?”
The Final Push for One Last Title
Inter Miami still have two regular-season matches left before heading into the playoffs. Alba may yet have one last chance to chase another championship and close his career on a high note.
