Messi’s Heartfelt Farewell to Jordi Alba as a Storied Chapter Closes
7 October 2025
Farewell Message on the Left Flank
Argentine icon Lionel Messi, star of Inter Miami, delivered a moving farewell to Jordi Alba after Alba announced his retirement from football.
Alba, 36, ends a career that flourished with Barcelona and the Spain national team, and he will close this chapter alongside Messi at Inter Miami.
Messi responded to Alba’s retirement video on Instagram with, "Thanks Jordi, I will miss you a lot." He added that after all these years together, it would be strange to look to the left and not see him there.
He joked about the assists Alba provided over the years, wondering who will return those passes now.
Alba and Messi formed an exceptional partnership, despite Alba’s role as a left-back and Messi’s as a right winger.
They played 345 matches for Barcelona across all competitions, totaling 27,657 minutes, starting in the 2012-2013 season against Real Sociedad.
Their first direct contribution came on August 26, 2012, when Alba assisted the winning goal Messi scored against Osasuna.
In Alba’s statement, he thanked teammates, coaches, and staff, and named the clubs that shaped his life, notably Barcelona and Inter Miami.
He continued by naming Cornella, Nàstic de Tarragona, Valencia, and others that helped him grow before his time at Barcelona and beyond.
He thanked Barcelona, his lifelong club, and Inter Miami, for opening their doors and welcoming him with love, allowing him to finish this journey with joy.
He concluded: "Today I close this chapter, I have given my all; football will always be part of my life." He also thanked his wife and children for their support and reminded fans that a shirt is more than fabric—it’s a feeling.
Alba’s long career saw 700 matches, 51 goals, and 135 assists. He won six La Liga titles, four Spanish Super Cups, five Copa del Rey trophies, a Champions League, a UEFA Super Cup, and the Club World Cup with Barcelona, plus the supporters’ shield and league cup with Inter Miami. Internationally, he captured Euro 2012 and the 2023 Nations League with Spain. Inter Miami extended his contract to 2027. Notably, Sergio Busquets, Alba’s Spain and Barcelona teammate, made the same decision a couple of weeks earlier.
