Watch Andres Iniesta's emotional farewell in his (likely) last cup final at Barcelona
There has been no official announcement about Andres Iniesta’s future at the only club he has ever known. But 60 beautiful, emotional, unscripted seconds during Barcelona’s 5-0 Copa Del Rey final triumph over Sevilla on Saturday were better than any announcement or prepared tribute could have been.
Iniesta is reportedly off to China at season’s end after more than two decades at Barcelona. So as he exited the Estadio Wanda Metropolitano pitch Saturday, with one last cup final triumph all but secured, the applause started to roll around him. And when it did, tears started to flow.
Iniesta in tears as he left the field and the entire stadium gets up on their feet to give him a rousing ovation
A true legend of the game is saying goodbye.
Thanks for everything Don Andres. pic.twitter.com/HCgVYE0MwP— The Touch FCB (@TheTouch_FCB) April 21, 2018
Barcelona fans bowed down to him. Even Sevilla fans gave him a standing ovation.
Wonderful ovation for Andres Iniesta from both sets of fans. #FinalCopa pic.twitter.com/yZiMpcuDVU
— The Spanish Football Podcast (@tsf_podcast) April 21, 2018
Commentators apparently couldn’t believe he was leaving them:
"Don't leave Iniesta" cry the commentators on Spanish TV as he scores a wonderful goal for Barca's fourth. 4-0 Barca. "maybe he can come back and play here once a month?" they suggest optimistically.
— The Spanish Football Podcast (@tsf_podcast) April 21, 2018
ASÍ NARRÓ @LluisFlaquer en @carrusel el gol de DON @andresiniesta8
Un gol para la historia un gol para el recuerdo eterno culé pic.twitter.com/id6cTQq4Jh
— Carrusel Deportivo (@carrusel) April 21, 2018
Iniesta had been fittingly brilliant on the night, and punctuated his performance with a customarily clever goal, combining with Lionel Messi as he so often has over the past decade:
#CopaDelRey Messi,Iniesta,Alba, Coutinho…La "rebelión de los enanos" eleva el fútbol⚽ a categoría de arte. El #FCBarcelona indiscutible Rey de Copas @Cadena3Com #FinalCopaDelRey #barcasevilla #Wanda pic.twitter.com/icg0Pi88sv
— Adrián Cragnolini (@Aleph911) April 21, 2018
He later lifted the trophy – his penultimate at Barca. He’ll soon lift his last one when the Catalans clinch their La Liga crown.
He will depart Barcelona as one of the greatest players in club history, and perhaps one of the best European football has ever seen. He’ll have 32 club trophies to his name.
More importantly, he’ll have been responsible for millions of love affairs with the sport, unquantifiable inspiration, and countless indelible memories.
Having joined the club as a 12-year-old, and having been such a massive part of its success for over a decade, Iniesta will get a proper sendoff soon enough. Saturday felt like the start of it.
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Henry Bushnell covers global soccer, and occasionally other ball games, for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Question? Comment? Email him at henrydbushnell@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @HenryBushnell.
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