Lionel Messi penned a heartfelt message to his longtime good friend and teammate Jordi Alba following the Spanish defender’s announcement of his retirement from skilled soccer. Alba’s choice to retire from the sport got here simply 13 days after teammate Sergio Busquets took the identical step.
After an illustrious stint collectively at Barcelona, Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba are presently plying their commerce with Inter Miami within the Main League Soccer (MLS). Messi was the primary to make the transfer in July 2023, earlier than Alba joined 5 days after the Argentine icon’s signing was made official.
On Tuesday, October 7, 2025, Jordi Alba took to Instagram to announce that he’ll hold up his boots on the conclusion of the present season.
“Thanks soccer, thanks a lot,” Alba captioned the put up.
Lionel Messi commented on the defender’s put up with a heartfelt message.
“Because of you, Jordi. I’ll miss you a lot. After a lot collectively, it is going to be bizarre to look to the left and never see you there… Loopy how a lot assists you gave me all these years.. Who’s gonna give me again passes now???,” Messi wrote.
Messi and Alba have fashioned a formidable partnership since their time at Barcelona, the place Alba assisted Messi numerous occasions down the left flank. So far, the duo has performed a complete of 413 matches collectively throughout Barcelona and Inter Miami. In that interval, Alba has assisted Messi 33 occasions, they usually have additionally mixed for 44 targets.
“The chance was very enticing” – When Jordi Alba mentioned Lionel Messi influenced his choice to hitch Inter Miami
Regardless of having handed their prime, the connection between Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba on the pitch has remained sturdy, paying homage to their Barcelona days. Messi’s transfer to Miami noticed three of his Barcelona teammates be a part of him on the Florida-based membership.
Talking to CBS Sports activities in 2024, Alba revealed that reuniting with Messi was a consider his choice to hitch Inter Miami.
“I do not get uninterested in successful. I need to preserve successful, to maintain competing. If I did not have that pleasure I would not have come right here. I’d have stayed in Barcelona, at residence, not taking part in soccer. The chance was very enticing. I additionally wished to get again with Leo [Messi] and Busi [Sergio Busquets] and now Luis [Suarez] has additionally come. So these have been the incentives that led me to make that call,” Alba mentioned.
In 68 matches performed collectively at Inter Miami, Messi and Alba have mixed for 14 targets.
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Edited by Ezekiel Olamide
