At the age of 39, Spanish football legend Andres Iniesta is set to continue his career in the United Arab Emirates. Being a free agent since his departure from Vissel Kobe in Japan, the former FC Barcelona star has signed with Emirates FC.
The player himself announced the news on his social media platforms this Wednesday with a brief message accompanied by a short video. “New club. New challenge. Always the same enthusiasm. Vamos @Emirates_FC!! ⚽️🙌,” he wrote on Twitter in both English and Spanish.
Although Inter Miami showed keen interest in bringing the former FC Barcelona player back to America, where he would have reunited with his former teammates Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba, the midfielder chose an even more exotic destination to put an end to a career already rich in achievements.
Andrés Iniesta Luján, born on May 11, 1984, in Fuentealbilla, Spain, began his football career in the youth teams of Albacete Balompié. Following an impressive performance in a tournament, he was spotted by FC Barcelona, which welcomed him to its training center, La Masia, at the age of twelve in 1996. After making his debut with the reserve team in 2001, he quickly climbed the ranks to become an indispensable member of the first team from the 2002-2003 season. Iniesta then accumulated numerous trophies, including four UEFA Champions League titles, nine La Liga championships, two UEFA Super Cups, and two FIFA Club World Cups. He served as the captain of FC Barcelona from August 2015 to May 2018.
Iniesta received several individual awards throughout his career, including the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award for the 2011-2012 season and titles for the best midfielder for the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 seasons. On the international stage, he was named the best player of Euro 2012. He finished second in the Ballon d’Or in 2010, followed by a third place in 2012. Iniesta is widely regarded as one of the greatest midfielders in football history, thanks to his exceptional vision, precise passing, and ability to create opportunities through his dribbles.
His contribution to the Spanish national team is marked by historic achievement, winning the Euro 2008, the 2010 World Cup – where he scored the decisive goal in extra time during the final against the Netherlands (1-0) – and Euro 2012. With a total of 39 official titles, Iniesta holds the record for the most decorated Spanish player of all time, establishing himself as one of the most decorated athletes in football history, regardless of nationality.
