The Spanish midfielder has brought an end to a glittering 24-year playing career that saw him recognised as one of the best players in the world as part of the all-conquering Barcelona and Spain teams at the end of the 2000s and the beginning of the 2010s.

Iniesta joined Barca's La Masia youth academy aged 12 and went on to make 674 appearances for the Catalan club - winning nine La Liga titles and the Champions League on four occasions.

He made 131 appearances for Spain and scored the winning goal in the final against the Netherlands as the country won the World Cup for the first time in 2010. He was also instrumental as La Roja won the European Championship in both 2008 and 2012.

Iniesta left Barca in 2018 and concluded his club career by playing for Vissel Kobe in Japan and Emirates Club in the United Arab Emirates.

Speaking at an event in Barcelona, he said: "Being on the pitch is over. I can't stay away from football, it's my life and will continue to be my life.

"Yes, all these tears we have shed these days are tears of emotion, of pride. They are not tears of sadness.

"They are tears of that boy from a small town like Fuentealbilla, who had the dream of being a footballer and we achieved it after a lot of hard work, sacrifice, of never giving up, essential values in my life."

Iniesta's former team-mate Lionel Messi paid tribute to his "magical" Barcelona contemporary.

He wrote on social media: "One of the most magical teammates and one of those who I most enjoyed playing together, Andres Iniesta, the ball will miss you and so will we! I wish you all the best, you are a phenomenon."