Sergio Busquets to Retire at End of MLS Season: A Legendary Career Comes to a Close
Sergio Busquets, one of the greatest midfielders of his generation and a cornerstone of both Spain and Barcelona’s golden eras, has announced that he will retire from professional football at the end of the Major League Soccer (MLS) season in December.
The 38-year-old Inter Miami star confirmed the news in an emotional video message shared on social media, bringing an end to a glittering career that has spanned nearly two decades.
A Career Full of Silverware
Busquets’ legacy is defined by his unmatched intelligence on the pitch, his positional awareness, and his ability to dictate the tempo of a match with calm precision.
Over 18 years at Barcelona, he collected 32 major honours, including nine La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey crowns, and three Champions League trophies.
His trophy cabinet is one of the most decorated in modern football, underlining his status as a generational talent who redefined the defensive midfield role.
For Spain, he was equally pivotal. He earned 143 caps, anchoring the midfield of Vicente del Bosque’s all-conquering national side that lifted the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and followed it up with the 2012 European Championship in Poland and Ukraine. He retired from international duty in December 2022 as Spain’s third-most capped player, behind only Sergio Ramos and Iker Casillas.
The Barcelona Years
Busquets’ story is also the story of Barcelona’s golden era. He joined the club’s academy in 2005, progressing rapidly through the youth system before making his first-team debut in 2008 under Pep Guardiola. Guardiola, who famously described him as the best holding midfielder in the world, trusted him to anchor the side that would dominate European football with their tiki-taka philosophy.
Over the next decade and a half, Busquets became an irreplaceable figure in the Blaugrana midfield, alongside Xavi Hernández and Andrés Iniesta.
That trio is often considered one of the finest midfield units in football history. Busquets’ selfless play, tactical intelligence, and ability to win back possession allowed his teammates to shine in more advanced roles.
In total, he made 722 appearances for Barcelona, the third-most in the club’s history, behind only Lionel Messi and Xavi. His quiet influence, leadership, and consistency cemented his place as one of the club’s greatest-ever players.
The Inter Miami Chapter
After ending his long spell at Camp Nou in 2023, Busquets joined Inter Miami, where he reunited with close friends and former Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba, and Luis Suárez.
Together, they turned the club into a headline act in MLS, boosting the league’s profile globally. While Miami’s results were mixed, Busquets’ professionalism and experience provided stability and leadership in a squad still finding its identity.
Speaking in his retirement announcement, Busquets reflected on his journey:
I feel like the time has come to say goodbye to my career as a professional footballer. It’s been almost 20 years of enjoying this incredible story I always dreamed of. I’m retiring very happy, proud, fulfilled, and above all, grateful. Thank you all very much, see you soon.”
A Master of His Craft
Busquets’ playing style was never about flair or spectacular goals. Instead, he was the embodiment of efficiency.
He read the game like few others, cutting out passing lanes, making interceptions, and launching attacks with simple but perfectly weighted passes. His ability to remain calm under pressure became his trademark.
Legendary managers and teammates have long sung his praises. Former Spain coach Vicente del Bosque once famously said:
If you watch the game, you don’t see Busquets. But if you watch Busquets, you see the whole game.”
Legacy and Influence
Busquets will be remembered as the archetype of the modern defensive midfielder—a player who transformed the “pivot” role from a destroyer into a cerebral orchestrator. His style influenced an entire generation of midfielders and continues to shape how the position is played today.
At Barcelona, his name will always be associated with the golden age of Guardiola’s side, the era of Messi, Xavi, and Iniesta.
For Spain, he is a symbol of their greatest-ever team, one that won three consecutive major international tournaments between 2008 and 2012.
What Comes Next?
Though Busquets has yet to outline his future plans, many expect him to remain in football, possibly following in the footsteps of Xavi by moving into coaching.
His understanding of the game, calm leadership, and tactical acumen make him an ideal candidate for management or a mentoring role.
For now, however, the football world will celebrate the end of a remarkable playing career. When the final whistle blows on his last Inter Miami match this December, Sergio Busquets will step off the pitch not just as a champion but as one of the greatest midfielders football has ever seen.