Spain legend Busquets to retire at end of MLS season

At the end of the Major League Soccer campaign in December, Sergio Busquets, a former Barcelona and Spain, will step down.

In his 18 years at Barcelona, the Inter Miami midfielder, 38, won 32 major awards, including three Champions League titles and nine La Liga titles.

He made 143 appearances for Spain and made the team that won the 2010 World Cup and the 2012 European Championship.

Busquets and former Barca teammates Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba, and Luis Suarez team up for Inter Miami in 2023.

“It’s about time to bid my professional footballing career adieu. In a video posted on social media, Busquets stated, “It’s been almost 20 years since I first dreamed of this incredible story.

“I’m retiring very pleased, proud, fulfilled, and most of all, grateful. I appreciate you all so much; see you soon.

Busquets made his first appearance for Barcelona in a 2008 league game against Racing Santander after joining the club in 2005 as a youth player and moving to Barca’s B side.

He made 722 appearances overall, which is the third-most in club history.

He made his international debut in 2009, retiring in December 2022 as the nation’s third-highest appearance-holder.

With a 4-0 victory over New York City FC on Wednesday, Inter Miami advanced to the MLS play-offs.