Iniesta walks down the sunset boulevard at Barca

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01:16

The Andres Iniesta era has finally come to an end at Barcelona as the midfield maestro played his last match for the Catalan giants on Sunday. The La Liga champions made their legendary player’s farewell a memorable one as they ended their season with a 1-0 win at Camp Nou against Real Sociedad. A sensational distance strike from Philippe Coutinho clinched the season-ending victory for the Spanish champions in front of their home crowd, who paid an emotional farewell to their departing captain.

The league's top scorer Lionel Messi started the game on the bench but replaced Coutinho in the 67th minute. Iniesta, who has been the fulcrum of Barca’s iconic tiki taka style, was substituted in the 82nd, hugging most of his teammates as well as some Real Sociedad players and the referee as he walked off the Camp Nou pitch for the last time as a Barcelona player.

Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta lifts Spanish league trophy during the ceremony at the end of the La Liga match against Real Sociedad at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona. /VCG Photo

Emotionally charged up Barca's fans held up a mosaic before the game with the message “Infinite Iniesta.” They later unfurled a banner reading “Thanks for so much” in tribute to a homegrown player who came through the club's academy and spent 16 years pulling the strings in midfield, winning nine Liga titles, four Champions Leagues and six domestic cups.

They continued to sing Iniesta's name long after he had left the pitch. The captain returned with his teammates after the final whistle to lift the club's 25th Liga title and also show off the King's Cup trophy which they won in April, beating Sevilla 5-0 in the final.

Andres Iniesta is thrown in the air by his Barcelona teammates after the La Liga match against Real Sociedad. /VCG Photo

“Today is a difficult day. I have spent 22 marvelous years here and I've been so proud to defend and represent this badge, which for me is the best in the world,” Iniesta said, addressing the Barca fans from the pitch.

“Thanks to all our fans, for the support you've shown and the respect you have given me. I came here as a boy and I leave aged 34 as a man. I'll always carry you in my heart.”

Barca ended the season on 93 points, 14 more than second-placed Atletico Madrid and 17 above last year's champions Real Madrid. Ernesto Valverde's side lost only one Liga match, last week's 5-4 defeat at Levante.

(With input from Reuters)