Saturday's Barcelona match will not be just another ordinary game for Spanish defender Gerard Pique as it will mark the last for him donning in the Catalonia giant's jersey.  The defender has confirmed in a video on social media that he will retire from football after Barcelona's clash against Almeria on Saturday in LaLiga. Pique has fallen out of favour with Xavi Hernandez this season, making just three LaLiga starts, and has decided to call time on his trophy-laden career. 

Pique has slipped behind Ronald Araujo, Jules Kounde, Andreas Christensen, and Eric Garcia in the pecking order at Barcelona this season and most of the time he has been in a game has been spent on a bench. He had previously said he would rather retire than accept being a substitute for a whole season and now looks set to keep his word. The defender will now wave goodbye to Camp Nou at Saturday's game against Almeria in what is bound to be an emotional game for the 35-year-old Spanish defender. 

He has won the LaLiga, the UEFA Champions League, and the Copa del Rey but the highlight of his career came when he won the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa alongside his Spain teammates. Pique's contract at Barcelona had been due to end in June 2024 and thus is retiring 18 months ahead of its expiration. He now hangs his boots after making 615 appearances for the Catalan giants a move that will save the club £46million in salary payment. Pique had been long-established as one of the highest earners at Camp Nou despite accepting multiple salary deferrals - many of which remained owed to him - and reductions in the past few years. Pique is, however, undoubtedly amongst the greatest defenders of his generation.