'I will not play again for Spain... unless something strange happens'

There wasn't a dry eye in the house when Iniesta announced his departure from Barcelona at the end of the season, with China or Japan tipped as his next destination.

However, once the World Cup finishes on July 15, Iniesta's time in a Spanish national shirt will also come to an end and he insisted there will be no potential return.

"If nothing strange happens, this (World Cup) will be my last participation with Spain," he declared.

"If I leave Barca, I leave the national team, one thing goes with the other".

Going into this summer's tournament, Iniesta has been capped 124 times for Spain, scoring 13 goals in the process, one in the World Cup final in 2010.