Inter Miami full-back and former Barcelona defender Jordi Alba has officially announced his retirement from professional football, marking the end of a distinguished career that spanned nearly two decades.
The 35-year-old Spaniard made the announcement just a week after his close friend and former teammate Sergio Busquets also retired, despite having recently signed a contract extension with Inter Miami through the 2027 season.
Before concluding his career with the Herons, Alba made over 700 professional club appearances, representing FC Barcelona, Valencia CF, and Gimnàstic de Tarragona.
He joined Inter Miami in July 2023, reuniting with Barcelona legends Lionel Messi and Busquets, continuing a long-standing on-field partnership that began at Camp Nou.
Announcing his decision via social media, Alba wrote:
“The time has come to close a truly meaningful chapter in my life. I’ve decided to bring my professional football career to an end at the conclusion of this season.
I do so with complete conviction, peace, and happiness because I feel I’ve walked this path with every ounce of passion I had. Now it’s the right moment to open a new chapter and close the previous one with the best possible feeling.”
During his 11-year spell at Barcelona, Alba became one of the best left-backs of his generation, recording 37 goals and 107 assists in 605 appearances across all competitions.
He won the UEFA Champions League (2015), six La Liga titles, five Copa del Reys, and four Spanish Super Cups, among other honours. His attacking chemistry with Lionel Messi became one of Barcelona’s most iconic partnerships.
For Spain, Alba earned 93 caps and scored 10 goals, featuring prominently in the nation’s UEFA Euro 2012 triumph and the 2023 UEFA Nations League victory.
Since joining Inter Miami, Alba has helped the team capture both the 2023 Leagues Cup and the 2024 Supporters’ Shield, contributing 14 goals and 28 assists in 95 matches in all competitions.
Alba’s retirement marks the end of an era for a generation of Spanish footballers who defined both Barcelona’s tiki-taka dominance and Spain’s golden age.
