Messi: 'So, who will be passing the ball to me now?'

Lionel Messi expressed an emotional message to Jordi Alba following the Spanish defender’s declaration to retire at the season’s close.

Lionel Messi shared a touching message after his close teammate Jordi Alba officially announced he will retire at the end of the 2025 season.

On Alba’s personal Instagram, the Argentine superstar left a comment: “Thank you, Jordi. I will miss you a lot. After everything we’ve been through, it feels strange to look to the left and not see you there anymore.” Messi also humorously recalled the special connection between them on the field: “It’s crazy to think about how many assists you’ve given me over the years... Now who will be delivering those passes to me?”

Jordi Alba, currently playing for Inter Miami, announced he will end his professional football career after the conclusion of the 2025 Major League Soccer (MLS) season. Along with Sergio Busquets, his close friend who retired earlier, Alba will be the next to leave the team led by Messi.

“It’s time to close a meaningful chapter in my life. I do this with calmness, confidence, and happiness because I feel I have given my all to my career. Now is the right moment to start a new chapter and end the old one with the best feelings,” Alba shared in a video posted on Instagram.

In the video lasting over three minutes, the Spanish defender reflected on his football journey from being a boy at Atletico Centro Hospitalense, Cornella, Nastic de Tarragona, then Valencia, where he made his name before reaching the pinnacle with Barcelona.

Wearing the Barca jersey, Alba and Messi formed a fearsome partnership on the left flank, contributing to dozens of goals and numerous trophies, including the 2015 Champions League, five La Liga titles, and five Copa del Rey trophies.

Not only at club level, Alba also left his mark with the Spanish national team by winning EURO 2012, where he scored in the final against Italy.

Joining Inter Miami in the summer of 2023, Alba reunited with Messi and Busquets, helping the American club attract global attention. The trio of former Barcelona stars quickly turned Inter Miami into a phenomenon in MLS both in terms of performance and image.

“Thank you, Inter Miami, for welcoming me with open arms, for your kindness, and for giving me the chance to enjoy this journey until the very last moments,” Alba concluded the emotional farewell video.

For Messi, Alba’s departure is not only a loss for Inter Miami but also marks the end of one of the most beautiful partnerships in Barcelona’s golden era.