Busquets to retire after MLS season, ending storied Barcelona era

Sergio Busquets, the 37 year old Spanish midfielder for Inter Miami and a long-time Barcelona stalwart, announced he will retire from professional football at the end of the current Major League Soccer season. In a video posted to his Instagram account on Thursday, Busquets said, "Hello everyone. I feel that the time has come for me to say goodbye to my career as a professional football player," and thanked Barcelona, the Spanish national team and Inter Miami for their roles in his career.

Busquets leaves a record of sustained success at club and international level. He spent 16 years with Barcelona after rising through its La Masia academy and made 722 appearances for the club, the third most in its history. With Barcelona he won nine LaLiga titles, seven Copa del Rey trophies and three UEFA Champions League titles, and he also collected multiple UEFA Super Cups and Club World Cups. Across his career with club and country he amassed 36 major trophies, a total that places him among the most decorated players of his generation.

At international level Busquets earned 143 caps for Spain, helping his country win the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2012 European Championship. He retired...