The announcement and the wave of reactions
When Busquets took to the Inter Miami press room on Thursday, there was a palpable hush. At 37, the Spaniard confirmed that the 2025 MLS season will be his last. The news rippled through social media, fan forums and locker rooms worldwide. Within minutes, Lionel Messi had posted a nostalgic video of their Barcelona days, captioning it “A legend on and off the pitch.”
Even his long‑time rival Sergio Ramos, now starring for Monterrey in Mexico, jumped into the conversation. Ramos wrote: “Busi, you are the definition of how to be exceptional while remaining an ordinary guy… you have always stood out for your class, vision, and quality of football, and for your humble and authentic nature.” The sentiment echoed a broader feeling: Busquets isn’t just a former teammate, he’s a benchmark for professionalism.
Barcelona’s official channels labeled him a “legend,” highlighting his 18‑year stint, 700‑plus games and endless trophy cabinet moments. The club’s statement was short, but the impact was huge—fans flooded the comment section, recalling the first time they saw a teenage Busquets break up a counter‑attack with a simple, elegant interception.
Career highlights and a legacy that reshaped a position
From La Masia to the global stage, Busquets’ résumé reads like a football textbook. He arrived at the Camp Nou senior squad in 2008 and instantly became Pep Guardiola’s secret weapon. Over the next decade, he helped the team win:
- 9 LaLiga titles (2009‑10, 2010‑11, 2012‑13, 2014‑15, 2015‑16, 2017‑18, 2018‑19, 2020‑21, 2022‑23)
- 3 UEFA Champions League trophies (2008‑09, 2010‑11, 2014‑15)
- 7 Copa del Rey trophies
- Multiple Supercopa de España and FIFA Club World Cup titles
Beyond club success, Busquets was a cornerstone of Spain’s golden generation. He featured in the 2010 World Cup‑winning side and the back‑to‑back Euro triumphs of 2008 and 2012. In each tournament, his composure under pressure allowed the more creative players to thrive.
What truly sets Busquets apart is how he rewrote the defensive midfielder’s script. Gone were the days of the “destroyer” who only tackled and covered. Busquets turned the role into a deep‑lying playmaker, capable of launching attacks with a single pass. His positioning, anticipation and ability to read a game have become case studies in coaching clinics worldwide.
Since moving to Inter Miami in 2023, he added a new chapter to his story, mentoring younger teammates and helping the club secure its first playoff berth. Fans in Miami quickly adopted him, creating chants that blend Spanish reverence with South‑Florida flair.
As the Sergio Busquets retirement approaches, the football world is already cataloguing the moments that made him stand out: the quiet slide tackle on a rival’s star striker, the effortless ball circulation that turned defense into attack, and the unflappable smile after a hard‑won draw. His departure will leave a void, but the blueprint he left for the modern midfield will keep influencing managers and players for generations to come.
Hemlata Arora
September 29, 2025 AT 01:59While it's undeniable that Busquets possessed technical mastery, one must question whether the romanticization of his role overlooks the systemic advantages he enjoyed within Barcelona's tiki-taka machine. His positioning was only effective because of the exceptional talent surrounding him-Messi, Xavi, Iniesta. To elevate him as a revolutionary is to ignore the architecture that made his contributions possible.
manohar jha
September 29, 2025 AT 11:57Man, I remember watching him as a kid in 2009-just standing there like he was sipping chai in a Mumbai café while the whole world exploded around him. That’s the Indian way of playing football, right? Cool, calm, and always one step ahead. Busquets didn’t just play-he meditated on the pitch. 🙏
Nitya Tyagi
September 30, 2025 AT 15:22Oh, another overhyped footballer… seriously? He didn’t even score much… and now everyone’s crying like he’s Mother Teresa with cleats? 😔👏👏👏… I mean, sure, he was ‘classy’… but where’s the passion? Where’s the fire? Where’s the *real* heroism? This is why modern football is so boring…
Sanjay Verma
October 2, 2025 AT 03:49Actually, Busquets’ influence on modern midfield play is backed by data. Studies from the University of Barcelona’s sports analytics team show his average pass completion rate under pressure was 92%-highest among all defensive midfielders in La Liga history. His off-the-ball movement created passing lanes that didn’t exist before. He didn’t just play the position-he redefined it statistically, tactically, and psychologically.
surabhi chaurasia
October 3, 2025 AT 11:34He should have retired sooner. Too old. Too slow. Football is for young men. This is just sad.
Amresh Singh knowledge
October 3, 2025 AT 13:05Busquets represents a rare convergence of discipline, humility, and intellectual rigor in sport. His career serves as a model for young athletes across disciplines-not just football. The quiet consistency he displayed, year after year, without seeking adulation, is a lesson in character. We should celebrate such figures more often.
Rahul Madhukumar
October 5, 2025 AT 05:25LMAO look at all these people crying over a guy who didn’t even win Ballon d’Or. He was just a glorified sweeper. Messi got all the glory, Busquets got the free passes and a fancy contract. And now they’re acting like he’s the second coming of Jesus? 🤡
Khushi Thakur
October 5, 2025 AT 17:30There’s a quiet tragedy in his legacy: he was the invisible architect of greatness, yet his name is rarely spoken with the same reverence as those who scored the goals. His genius was in subtraction-the removal of chaos, the erasure of pressure. He didn’t create beauty; he made space for it to exist. And now, when he leaves, the silence he left behind will be louder than any goal.
Varad Tambolkar
October 7, 2025 AT 14:37Wait… why is a Spanish player in MLS? Is this part of some Western cultural takeover? What about Indian midfielders? Why aren’t we getting global recognition? And why is everyone praising him like he’s the only one who ever played smart football? This is just colonial nostalgia dressed up as football worship. 🇮🇳✊
Vijay Paul
October 9, 2025 AT 11:23Busquets didn’t need to score. He didn’t need to shout. He just needed to be there. And when he was, everything else worked. That’s rare. That’s art. That’s football at its purest. I’ll miss him more than I thought I would.
RUPESH BUKE
October 9, 2025 AT 22:24He was the best