Days after the legendary career of his Inter Miami, FC Barcelona, and Spanish national team teammate Sergio Busquets was celebrated in Miami, Jordi Alba (36)—a star left-back for Valencia, FC Barcelona, Inter Miami, and Spain—announced his retirement at the conclusion of the 2025 MLS season.
A Legendary Career in Spain for Jordi Alba
Part of Spain’s golden generation alongside the great defensive midfielder Busquets, Alba helped his country win Euro 2012, played in three World Cups, and capped his international career with a title in the 2022–23 UEFA Nations League.
After three strong years at Valencia, Alba made over 300 appearances for FC Barcelona across the next decade, winning more than a dozen trophies—including the 2014–15 UEFA Champions League and his final La Liga title in 2020–21. Known for his blistering speed, attacking instincts, and versatility, Alba excelled both for club and country. Like Busquets, Xavi Hernández, and Andrés Iniesta, he possessed an elite football IQ and tactical sharpness. A prototypical Pep Guardiola full-back, he thrived in the tiki-taka system.
A Centerpiece of Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami
With his career winding down, Alba made the move to Inter Miami in the summer of 2023—the same window the club signed MLS MVP Lionel Messi and Busquets (and later, striker Luis Suárez). Alba embodied Inter Miami’s “win-now” approach under owners Jorge Mas and David Beckham. Despite facing younger competition, he showed that class is permanent, and besides Messi himself, was frequently Inter Miami’s best player on the pitch.
While Inter Miami hasn’t lifted as many trophies as expected in a competitive MLS landscape, the club set a points record last season, advanced to the knockout rounds of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, and remains in contention for an MLS title this year.
It’s likely that Alba, seeing Busquets depart and Suárez possibly next, felt it was time to “open a new chapter”, as he put it in a social media post.
Whatever one thinks of Messi’s Inter Miami era, the trio of Messi, Busquets, and Alba formed the most famous package of signings in MLS history—and they arrived after already achieving greatness together at Barcelona.
All eyes now turn to the record-breaking Lionel Messi as he prepares for one final World Cup with Argentina in 2026—a tournament hosted in North America—and considers how to close out his legendary career, having completed an extension of his contract with Inter Miami.
Former Spur Sergio Reguilón Incoming for the Herons?
Inter Miami has already signaled its intent to remain among the elite in MLS and North American football, continuing to retool its roster. Rodrigo De Paul, Messi’s 31-year-old Argentine teammate, joined the club from Atlético Madrid this summer on a loan-to-sign deal. Now, free agent Sergio Reguilón looks set to put pen to paper with South Florida’s MLS side.
Reguilón, a Real Madrid academy product, showed flashes of brilliance but battled injuries and inconsistency during a five-year stint with Tottenham Hotspur. Loan spells at Atlético Madrid, Manchester United, and Brentford couldn’t help him secure a permanent role in North London. At 28, he’s eager to revive his career in MLS after earning six caps with Spain—the last coming in 2021.
While Reguilón has drawn interest from several European clubs, he reportedly favors a move to Miami, fitting the profile of the kind of European talent MLS often attracts without Designated Player-level wages.
With Suárez and Messi likely to complete the Barcelona era in Miami by 2026 or 2027, Beckham and Mas are already eyeing the next global stars to headline the club’s new chapter—just in time for the opening of their new stadium next year.
Main Photo Credit: Imago Images Photo by Chris Arjoon/Icon Sportswire
