The final whistle at Chase Stadium on Saturday signaled more than just the end of Inter Miami’s home MLS campaign; it marked the close of an era for left back Jordi Alba.
In a fitting farewell, Alba – who recently announced he is retiring at the season’s end – excelled. In his last home appearance, he scored a goal set up by longtime Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi and added an assist of his own.
Inter Miami manager Javier Mascherano praised the departing legend, calling him, “surely among the Spanish full-backs…one of the best in history.” While the spotlight was on Alba, fans also erupted in celebration for Messi after he found the back of the net twice, once in each half.
The match also served as a farewell for another Barcelona icon, Sergio Busquets, who recently announced he is retiring as a player and will shift his focus towards his family and a career in coaching.
Following the match, the club honored Alba with a heartfelt postgame ceremony, where his family, former teammates, coaches and friends paid tribute to his extraordinary career.
