Throughout his illustrious career, Rakitic played 887 official matches for several top-tier teams, including FC Basel, Sevilla, FC Barcelona, Hajduk Split, and Al-Shabab. He took to YouTube to share a heartfelt video, thanking football for the friendships, valuable lessons, his loving family, and the opportunity to pursue his dreams.

During his time in Spain, Rakitic participated in 633 games for Sevilla and Barcelona, scoring 86 goals and making 105 assists. Last season, he played 39 matches in Croatia, scoring 2 goals and making 5 assists. In 2015, he was named Croatia's Footballer of the Year after helping Barcelona win the Champions League, marking the most successful period of his career.

Sevilla and FC Barcelona have both paid tribute to Rakitic's retirement, with Sevilla expressing their well-wishes and FC Barcelona sharing a photo of Rakitic with the trophies he won while playing for the team. Their message to Rakitic reads: "Football will miss you, Ivan. We wish you all the best in this new chapter of your life."

Rakitic's contributions to football will be remembered for years to come, and his fans will surely miss him on the pitch. However, his decision to retire opens up new opportunities for him to explore and pursue his passions outside of the sport.