Inter Miami defender Jordi Alba has announced his decision to retire from professional football at the end of the current season, bringing an illustrious career spanning nearly two decades to a close.
The 35-year-old made the announcement on social media on Tuesday, expressing gratitude and fulfilment over his football journey.
“The time has come to close a truly meaningful chapter in my life,” Alba wrote. “I’ve decided to bring my professional football career to an end at the conclusion of this season. I do so with peace and happiness because I’ve given this sport everything I have. Now is the right moment to begin a new chapter and close this one with pride.”
Alba joined Major League Soccer side Inter Miami in July 2023, reuniting with former Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets. Interestingly, Busquets had also announced his retirement from football just last week.
Despite having a contract extension with Miami that ran through 2027, Alba has opted to step away from the game sooner.
A product of Valencia’s youth academy, the left-back played over 700 professional matches during his career, representing Valencia CF, Gimnàstic de Tarragona, Barcelona, and Inter Miami. Across his club career, he recorded 37 goals and 107 assists in 605 appearances for Valencia and Barcelona combined.
On the international stage, Alba was capped 93 times for Spain, scoring 10 goals. He played a key role in Spain’s triumph at Euro 2012 and was part of the squad that won the UEFA Nations League in 2023.
During his time at Barcelona, Alba collected numerous honours, including six La Liga titles and the 2015 UEFA Champions League.
Since moving to the United States, he has made 95 appearances for Inter Miami, contributing 14 goals and 28 assists. His spell in MLS saw him lift the Leagues Cup in 2023 and the Supporters’ Shield in 2024, cementing his legacy as one of the most accomplished left-backs of his generation.
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