Former Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets has announced that he will retire at the end of the 2025 Major League Soccer season, bringing to a close a storied career that spanned two continents and multiple eras of football.
Busquets, 37, joined Inter Miami in mid-2023, reuniting with former Barcelona teammates including Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba, and Luis Suárez. Before that, he spent 18 years at FC Barcelona, rising from the youth ranks to become a linchpin of their midfield. With Barcelona, he appeared over 700 times and won numerous trophies, among them nine La Liga titles and three UEFA Champions League crowns.
On the international stage, Busquets earned 143 caps for Spain and was part of the squads that won the 2010 World Cup and the 2012 European Championship.
In his announcement, Busquets posted a farewell video on social media, saying he felt the time had come to “say goodbye to my career as a professional footballer.” He said he was retiring “very happy, proud, fulfilled, and above all, grateful.”
At Inter Miami, he has made a lasting impact both on and off the field. The club highlighted not just his technical and leadership qualities, but also his role in guiding younger players and contributing to the team’s culture. He also helped Miami win major silverware, including the Leagues Cup and the Supporters’ Shield during his time there.
The remainder of the 2025 season will serve as Busquets’ final run in the sport. Miami is chasing top honors in the regular season and the playoffs as his career draws to its close.
Reactions have poured in from across the footballing world. Lionel Messi paid tribute on social media, writing:
“Together from pretty much the beginning until the end … A privilege to have enjoyed your football, Busi. And we still have a little more left!”
Sergio Ramos described Busquets as “one of the most brilliant midfielders I ever played with… for your class, vision and quality.”
Meanwhile, Javier Mascherano, now head coach at Inter Miami, expressed belief that Busquets’ next steps will likely involve coaching. He said he had “no doubt” that Busquets will enter the coaching ranks in time.
Busquets’ decision marks the end of an era—not only for Barcelona and Spain but also for the modern approach to midfield play. His intelligence, positional discipline, passing range, and game reading made him a model of the “pivot” role in midfield for over a decade.
As his final months unfold in MLS, fans, teammates, and rivals alike will watch as one of football’s greats brings his career to a respectful and celebrated close.
