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Analysis
- 46 minutes ago
Lionel Messi's wholesome reaction to Jordi Alba's retirement announcement
Martin Macdonald
- 8 Oct 2025 15:12 CDT
- 6 min read
News
Lionel Messi has sent a heartfelt message to Inter Miami team-mate Jordi Alba as the Barcelona legend announced his retirement.
Alba took to social media on Tuesday to announce that he is quitting the game at the end of the season. He follows Sergio Busquets to become the second member of the Inter Miami squad to declare his intention to hang up his boots at the end of the season.
Messi, who is expected to sign a new deal with the MLS outfit in the coming weeks, has delivered his former club-mate a glowing tribute on Instagram.
Current ETV
Lionel Messi
F, AM (R)
Inter Miami
Lionel Messi
F, AM (R)
Inter Miami
ETV Range
€6.5M - €8.8M
What did Messi say to Jordi Alba?
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner declared: “Thanks to you, Jordi. I'm going to miss you so much.
“After doing so much together, it's going to be weird to look to the left and not see you there...
“It’s crazy how many assists you have given me in all these years. Who's going to give me those passes now???”
Inter Miami already seem to have lined up his replacement, with former Real Madrid and Tottenham star Sergio Reguilon now expected to be the man who provides the all-time great with his assists.
Jordi Alba ‘more than a team-mate’ to Messi
Messi and Jordi Alba have been almost constant companions since the left-back joined Barcelona in the summer of 2012 from Valencia.
The sole exception was the two years that Messi spent with PSG. Indeed, it was his move to Inter Miami after leaving the Parisians that appeared to be a catalyst for the World Cup winner to join him in the US. Alba signed for the Herons only five days after the Argentine legend.
After Alba had announced his decision to leave Barcelona, Messi sent a similarly gushing message to the Spaniard.
“You were more than a team-mate, a true accomplice on the pitch... And how nice it is also to be able to enjoy how well we got along on a personal level,” Messi said.
“You know that I always wish you and your family the best, I hope that your new stage will continue to bring you many successes and joys.”
The 2025 MLS playoffs will be Messi’s last dance with Alba, and the Inter Miami stars will be desperate to make the most of it.
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