Softfootball reports that FC Barcelona paid a warm and honestly quite emotional tribute to two of its greatest icons, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, after both officially retired from football following Inter Miami’s 3-1 win over Vancouver Whitecaps in the 2025 MLS Cup after defeating New York City FC 5-1 in the semi-finals.
In the prematch preview we explained that the match was the perfect ending to a glamorous career from both players, and it closed the final chapter of two long, decorated careers that started at La Masia and shaped more than a decade of Barça’s success. It felt like the end of a whole era, not just two careers.
Barcelona marked the moment with a symbolic image via their official X account, showing younger versions of Busquets and Alba in classic retro kits, sitting above the Sagrada Família as the sun set behind them. It was simple but powerful, a reminder of where their journeys began and how far they carried the club’s identity.
They posted:
Two Barça and football legends retire.
Thanks for all the enjoyment you’ve given us over the years, your legacy will last long. All the best for what’s to come!
Busquets, now 37, steps away as Barcelona’s third-highest appearance maker with 720 games. He anchored the midfield during the club’s greatest era, winning 32 titles, including three Champions Leagues and six La Liga trophies.
His calmness on the ball and almost strange ability to read the game set a standard for the defensive midfield role. Vicente del Bosque once joked that if he were born again, he’d want to play like Busquets, and honestly, no one really argued with him.
Alba, 36, finishes his career with 389 Barça appearances and 18 major trophies. His pace, direct runs, and that almost telepathic link with Lionel Messi made him one of the most dangerous left-backs of his generation. He also shined for Spain, helping win the UEFA Euro 2012 title.
Their final seasons at Inter Miami reunited them with Messi and Luis Suárez, and lifting the MLS Cup gave them a fitting, storybook ending. Their retirement may close a chapter, but their legacy at Camp Nou will stay alive for a very long time.
