Spain legend Busquets to retire at end of MLS season

Former Spain and Barcelona captain Sergio Busquets will retire from playing at the end of the Major League Soccer season in December, his club Inter Miami has announced.

The midfielder, 38, won 32 major honours in 18 years at Barcelona, including nine La Liga titles and three Champions Leagues.

He made 143 appearances for Spain and was part of the side that won the 2010 World Cup and 2012 European Championship.

Busquets joined Inter Miami in 2023, linking up with former Barca team-mates Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba and Luis Suarez.

"I feel like the time has come to say goodbye to my career as a professional footballer. It's been almost 20 years of enjoying this incredible story I always dreamed of," Busquets said in a video posted on social media.

"I'm retiring very happy, proud, fulfilled, and above all, grateful. Thank you all very much, see you soon."

Busquets joined Barcelona in 2005 as a youth player, progressing to Barca's B side before making his first-team debut under manager Pep Guardiola in a 2008 league game against Racing Santander.

He played 722 matches in total - the third-most appearances in the club's history.

He made his international debut in 2009 and retired in December 2022 as the country's third-highest appearance holder.

Inter Miami secured their place in the MLS play-offs with a 4-0 victory over New York City FC on Wednesday.

The 18-team play-offs begin on 22 October and culminate with the MLS Cup on 6 December.