Spain legend Andres Iniesta confirmed in the aftermath of La Roja’s shock loss to Russia at the 2018 FIFA World Cup that he’ll be retiring from international football and the 34-year-old took to Instagram to release an open letter explaining his decision on Tuesday.
Fernando Hierro’s men were heavy favourites to reach the quarters at the expense of the hosts, but for all their dominance in their last-16 tie, they found the going tough against a resolute Russian defence.
Sergio Ramos forced an own goal early on, but the hosts found a way back into the tie by a penalty late in the first-half.
Iniesta was on the bench, but came on in the second-half as Spain tried to find the winner but it wasn’t to be and the tie went to extra time and then penalties.
Iago Aspas and Koke missed their respective spot-kicks as Russia held their nerve to script one of the shocks of the tournament.
At 34, Iniesta has won everything there is to win for club and country. He’s credited for scoring the most important goal in the history of Spanish football i.e the winning goal in the 2010 FIFA World Cup final.
A part of the Spanish side that dominated world and European football as they won a trio of major trophies on the trot (2008 Euro, 2010 World Cup and 2012 Euro), Iniesta was universally regarded as the finest midfielder on the planet at his peak.
Here’s his post, in Spanish and English both :
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The diminutive maestro departed boyhood club Barcelona at the close of last season, moving to Japanese side Vissel Kobe on a lucrative three-year deal.
Iniesta will be 37 by the time his time with the J-Leauge team comes to an end and it’s highly likely that the Spaniard will be hanging up his boots for good then.