Inter Miami held a moving tribute to Sergio Busquets, who will say goodbye to professional football at the end of this season.
The event took place this Saturday at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, immediately after the 4-1 victory over the New England Revolution, in a match where Lionel Messi shone with three assists and Jordi Alba and Tadeo Allende each scored doubles.
The tribute began after the final whistle, when the 37-year-old Spanish midfielder—accompanied by his wife Elena Galera and his sons Enzo, Levi, and Romeo—received a standing ovation from the crowd.
Between tears and smiles, Busquets walked down a corridor of honor formed by his teammates before receiving an award from club co-owner Jorge Más, who praised the player’s “elegance, class, and absolute commitment” to the team.
A video was projected on the stadium screens with messages of admiration from figures such as Andrés Iniesta, Xavi Hernández, Carles Puyol, Pep Guardiola, and Lionel Messi, as well as former Spain teammates Sergio Ramos and Xabi Alonso.
Everyone agreed on his leadership, his humility, and his fundamental role in the team’s game.
“I’m very happy for everything I’ve experienced and to be able to say goodbye in this way. This isn’t goodbye, it’s see you soon,” said Busquets after the tribute, assuring them that he will retire “fighting in the playoffs and seeking the title” with Inter Miami.
Forged in the FC Barcelona youth system, Busquets debuted in 2008 under the guidance of Pep Guardiola, who soon made him the silent linchpin of the team that marked an era in world football.
In his 15 years as a Barça player, he played 722 matches, winning three Champions Leagues, nine Spanish League titles, seven Copa del Rey titles, in addition to international titles with Spain: the 2010 World Cup and the 2012 European Championship.
His style—based on tactical intelligence, control of space, and precise passing—made him a global benchmark for central midfielders. As Vicente del Bosque said, “If I were a football player, I would like to be like Busquets.”
Busquets joined Inter Miami in 2023 to reunite with Messi, Jordi Alba, and Luis Suárez, bringing experience and leadership to the midfield.
Since his arrival, he has played more than 100 matches and was a key player in the club’s Supporters’ Shield and Leagues Cup triumphs.
Although his retirement will mark the end of an era, the Spaniard is already looking to the future:
“In a year and a half, I might start the coaching course. I want to enjoy time with my family and then continue to be involved in football,” he declared.
Inter Miami emphasized in a statement that his legacy will remain at the club, not only for his technical quality, but for his influence in the dressing room and his impact on the club’s growth.
With serenity, humility, and an impeccable career, Sergio Busquets bids farewell to professional football the same way he played it: without fanfare, but with an elegance that places him among the all-time greats.
