Spanish soccer star Andres Iniesta has played his final match for Vissel Kobe in the top J1 division of Japan's professional soccer league, J.League.

He bid farewell to more than 27,000 fans at Vissel Kobe's home stadium following the match against Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo on Saturday. The match drew the largest number of spectators in the club's history.

He ended his five-year stint at Vissel Kobe with a 1-1 draw.

Tears were welling up in his eyes as he spoke at a post-match ceremony to celebrate his career at the club.

Iniesta said he will never forget the love, respect, and kindness that fans have shown to him and his family since he arrived in Kobe.

He said he came to Kobe in 2018 having promised himself that he would help the club grow further and that he feels he has delivered.

Iniesta said he does not know where he will be playing next but that he believes he can do more.