Inter Miami defender Jordi Alba, one of several former Barcelona stars to follow Lionel Messi to MLS, has announced that he will retire at the end of the 2025 season.
Alba’s announcement marks the second such move for a major Inter Miami star in recent weeks. Midfielder Sergio Busquets confirmed his retirement in September, with both players calling it a career whenever the Herons’ season comes to an end.
The announcement marks a U-turn for Alba, who in May signed a contract extension that would have kept him on Miami’s books through the end of the 2027 season. However, the vastly experienced defender will now hang up his boots no later than the 2025 MLS Cup final, which is set for Dec. 6.
Inter Miami has two remaining regular-season matches, and have clinched an MLS playoff berth. The Herons will get a bye past the wild-card stage directly into Round 1, and will secure home-field advantage for a best-of-three series should they pick up one more point in the regular season.
Alba, 36, posted his announcement on Instagram Tuesday, calling time on a 20-year career that included a European title with Spain at Euro 2012, as well as six league championships and a UEFA Champions League crown with Barcelona. Since joining Miami in July 2023, Alba has lifted the 2023 Leagues Cup and 2024 Supporters’ Shield while being named to the MLS Best XI in 2024.
‘The time has come to close a truly meaningful chapter in my life,’ said Alba. ‘I’ve decided to bring my professional football career to an end at the conclusion of this season.
‘I do so with complete conviction, with peace, and with happiness. Because I feel I’ve walked this path with every ounce of passion I had, and now it’s the right moment to open a new chapter and close the previous one with the best possible feeling.’
In a club statement, Miami owner Jorge Mas hailed Alba as ‘a great asset within the team and an exemplary professional.’
‘Jordi has been an exceptional addition to Inter Miami and one of the standout players in Major League Soccer over these two seasons,’ added Mas. ‘Those that know me know that family is the most important part of my life, and Jordi will forever be part of our Inter Miami family. We wish Jordi all the happiness in this new stage of his life.’
Soccer data site Transfermarkt says that as of his announcement, Alba has played exactly 700 professional matches, scoring 51 goals and adding 135 assists. While Alba has played at least one season with Miami, Valencia, and Gimnàstic de Tarragona, the bulk of his career was spent at Barcelona, where (along with Miami’s Messi, Busquets, and Luis Suárez) he played a pivotal role in a spell of success that revolutionized the sport.
During that run, Alba was a fixture at left back, offering a major attacking threat while enjoying a nearly telepathic connection with Messi. The two spent nine years as teammates at the La Liga giants, and when Messi joined Paris Saint-Germain in 2021, it was Alba who succeeded him as Barcelona captain.
When Messi joined Inter Miami in 2023, it was time to get the gang back together. Messi, Busquets, and Alba all arrived in Miami that summer, immediately helping the club to its first-ever trophy. With the three iconic ex-Barcelona players in place, Miami claimed the 2023 Leagues Cup in a major statement of intent.
However, the club may be undergoing some significant changes. Beyond Alba and Busquets’ departures, the Herons’ new home at Miami Freedom Park, a 25,000-seat venue, is set to open for the 2026 season. While USA TODAY Sports reported that Messi and Miami are close to signing off on a new contract that would run through 2027, the status of another of the Argentine icon’s friends, Suárez, remains unknown.