Sergio Busquets officially announced that he will retire from professional football at the close of the 2025 Major League Soccer (MLS) season, bringing down the curtain on a career that spanned nearly two decades at the highest levels of the sport.
The announcement, made public by his club Inter Miami, marks the conclusion of a journey that traced a path from Barcelona’s La Masia to the heart of Spain’s golden years, and finally to North America.
Busquets, now 37 years old, joined Inter Miami in 2023 after an 18-year tenure at FC Barcelona. While the move initially surprised some, it offered him a chance to continue evolving in a different environment and reunite with former teammates such as Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba, and Luis Suárez.
His time in the United States added further chapters to his career: he contributed to the club’s victories in the Leagues Cup and the Supporters’ Shield, and played a key role in helping Miami secure a playoff berth. In its announcement, Inter Miami said it expects the team’s postseason run to constitute Busquets’s final matches in professional football.
In a farewell video posted on his Instagram account, Busquets reflected on the full arc of his football life. “I feel like the time has come to say goodbye to my career as a professional footballer. It has been almost 20 years of enjoying this incredible story I always dreamed of,” he said. “I’m retiring very happy, proud, fulfilled, and above all, grateful… Thank you all very much, see you soon.”
He paid tribute to Barça—“the club of my life,” he called it—and spoke movingly of his formative years, the dreams he lived, and the unique memories formed at Camp Nou.
Busquets also acknowledged the platform that the Spanish national team provided him. “Thank you to the Spain national team. It was an honor to represent it so many times and to enjoy achievements that will always remain in my heart,” he said. “Thank you to Inter Miami for letting me be part of a new and growing club, where I wanted to live a new experience and contribute my part.”
BREAKING: Sergio Busquets has decided to retire from professional football.
Legendary Spanish midfielder will say goodbye at the end of current MLS season in few weeks.
Absolute legend and icon of the game. pic.twitter.com/ASrTP41h9v
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 26, 2025
Tributes to Busquets quickly poured in. Former Spain and Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos called Busquets “one of the most brilliant midfielders I ever played with,” noting his class, vision and humility: “Football is losing one of the most brilliant midfielders I’ve ever played with, but you leave with the recognition and gratitude of all who have been with you and all who love this sport.”
Barcelona, the club where Busquets forged his identity, also recognized him as a “legend” in its own announcement.
To understand the magnitude of Busquets’s departure, one must revisit the origins and arc of his career. He is a product of La Masia, Barcelona’s famed youth academy, where he developed alongside the likes of Xavi and Andrés Iniesta.
He made his senior debut in 2008 under Pep Guardiola and became a steady presence in the midfield, a cerebral anchor who rarely drew headlines for flamboyance but whose positional intelligence, composure, tactical awareness, and ability to read the game made him indispensable.
During his Barcelona tenure, Busquets made over 700 appearances, winning nine La Liga championships, three UEFA Champions League titles, multiple Copa del Rey trophies, and other domestic and European honors.
On the international stage, he earned 143 caps for Spain and played a central role in the nation’s golden era, which included the 2010 World Cup and the 2012 European Championship triumphs. After the 2022 World Cup, he had already ended his international career, focusing instead on his club objectives.
His departure from Barcelona in 2023 was shaped by a complex mix of financial pressures facing the club and an opportunity to explore a fresh challenge. His move to Inter Miami was not just a transfer but a statement of intent: to extend relevance into a different context, bring leadership, and lend gravitas to a relatively young franchise.
In Miami, he offered not only technical contributions, but also mentorship; he helped bridge connections between the established stars and emerging talents.
Statistically, Busquets’ time in MLS may not match his European exploits, yet the numbers underscore his influence. He featured in over 100 matches in all competitions for Inter Miami, notching a modest tally of goals and assists but more importantly anchoring the midfield and contributing to the team’s competitive consistency.
In 2025 alone, he was involved in pivotal moments; in a 4–0 win over New York City FC, he supplied key balls that led to goals from Messi and others, helping secure Miami’s playoff berth.