The 35-year-old, Gerard Pique, three-time Champions League and eight-time La Liga winner with boyhood club Barcelona, revealed the news in a video message posted on his social media.
“Football has given me everything,” he said. “Barcelona has given me everything. You, culers (Barcelona fans), have given me everything.
“And now that [this] kid’s dreams have come true, I want to tell you that I’ve decided that now is the time to bring this journey to its end.”
Pique, who won multiple honours with Barcelona, as well as the 2010 World Cup with the national team, has been out of favour this season under Xavi Hernandez.
Culers, us he de dir una cosa. pic.twitter.com/k3V919pm1T
— Gerard Piqué (@3gerardpique) November 3, 2022
The 35-year-old had been a near-constant fixture in Barcelona’s starting line-up after joining from Manchester United in 2008, but in recent years had started to suffer from regular injuries.
However, the former Manchester United defender wants his boyhood club to be his last, saying: “I’ve always said that there would not be any other team after Barca and that’s how it will be.”
Pique finished his statement by hinting at a future return to the club in a non-playing capacity.
“This Saturday’s game will be my last at Camp Nou,” he said. “I will become a regular fan. I will support the team. I will pass my love for Barcelona to my children. And you know me sooner or later, I’ll be back.”
Pique made his professional debut for Manchester United in the 2004 season after joining as a teenager from Barcelona. He spent the 2006/7 season on loan at Real Zaragoza and left to return to his boyhood club, with Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand offering him little chance of regular football under Alex Ferguson.
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Pique retired from international football in 2018 and scored five goals in 102 appearances, while also making 10 appearances for the Catalonia representative side.
He won the 2010 World Cup, following it up with the 2012 European Championship.
For Barcelona, he played 615 times, netting 52 goals. With Barca he won eight La Liga titles, seven Copas del Reys, and three of each of the Champions League, Super Cup and Club World Cup.
