‘Who’ll Give Me Passes Now?’: Messi’s Comment On Jordi Alba’s Retirement Goes Viral

prepares for a free kick as Jordi Alba looks on during the MLS game between Inter Miami CF and Chicago Fire FC (Picture credit: AFP)

Star footballer Lionel Messi’s reaction to Inter Miami left-back Jordi Alba’s retirement has gone viral, following the latter’s announcement that he will soon hang up his boots. Alba’s decision to retire from football came less than two weeks after midfielder Sergio Busquets took the same step.

After a glittering partnership at Barcelona, Messi and Alba have reunited at Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.

On Tuesday, Alba announced on Instagram that he will retire at the end of the current season.

“Thank you, football, thank you so much,” Alba captioned the post.

Messi responded to the post with a heartfelt comment.

“Thanks to you, Jordi. I’m going to miss you so much. After so much together, it’s going to be weird to look to the left and not see you there… Crazy how many assists you gave me all these years.. Who’s gonna give me back passes now???” Messi commented.

Messi and Alba have shared a formidable partnership since their Barcelona days, with Alba setting up countless goals for the Argentine down the left flank. Together, they have featured in 413 games across Barcelona and Inter Miami.

Even past their prime, Messi and Alba continue to show the same seamless chemistry on the field that once defined their Barcelona days.

“I don’t get tired of winning. I want to keep winning, to keep competing. If I did not have that excitement, I would not have come here. I would have stayed in Barcelona, at home, not playing football,” Alba said while speaking to CBS Sports last year.

“The opportunity was very attractive. I also wanted to get back with Leo [Messi] and Busi [Sergio Busquets] and now Luis [Suarez] has also come. So these were the incentives that led me to make that decision,” Alba added.

While the Spanish star had planned to extend his career through the 2027 season, he has reversed course and called time on a career that included six La Liga titles with Barcelona, as well as a Champions League crown.