Retirement Announcement
Sergio Busquets has announced that he will retire at the conclusion of the MLS season in December after a remarkable career. At 38, he is one of the most celebrated players in modern football and is widely considered the best defensive midfielder of his era. Over an 18-year span, Busquets made 722 appearances for Barcelona—the third-highest in the club’s history—during which he secured nine LaLiga titles and three Champions League trophies.
The Spanish international accumulated 143 caps for his national team, winning the World Cup in 2010 and the European Championship in 2012. Busquets will conclude his professional journey alongside close friends Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba, and Luis Suárez at Inter Miami. We take a look at the players he played alongside the most throughout his distinguished career.
Sergio Busquets’ Most Frequent Teammates
Unsurprisingly, Busquets shared the pitch with Messi more than any other player, featuring together 639 times—34 more than the second-placed Gerard Piqué. Naturally, every player in the combined standout XI below played alongside Busquets at Barcelona, reflecting his nearly two-decade tenure with the Catalan giants. Sergio Ramos, who played alongside Busquets 102 times, is the most frequently appeared player alongside him who never donned the Barcelona jersey.
Speaking about his upcoming retirement, Busquets expressed: “I feel the time has come to bid farewell to my career as a professional footballer. It’s been nearly 20 years of enjoying this incredible journey I’ve always dreamed of. I’m retiring feeling very happy, proud, fulfilled, and above all, grateful. Thank you all very much, and see you soon.”
