David Villa, one of the greatest Spanish players of all time, and one of the best pure forwards around the world of his generation, scored a goal in his final game as a professional on Saturday.
The 38-year-old, who played for J-League team Vissel Kobe in 2019, struck the winner from the penalty spot in the second half in a 4-1 win over Jubilo Iwata in the teams' season finales.
Villa's teammate Lukas Podolski scored a hat trick in the match, as Vissel Kobe finished the 2019 season in 8th place in the J-League, on 47 points. Villa tied for the third-most goals in the league season, with 13.
Villa was the first player signed by New York City FC ahead of their inaugural 2015 season, and played four seasons in MLS in all for the Cityzens, scoring 77 goals in 117 regular-season appearances, as well as three goals in seven Audi MLS Cup Playoffs appearances. MLS MVP in 2016, Villa also won the 2008 European Championship and 2010 World Cup with Spain, is Spain's all-time leading scorer, with 59 in 98 appearances, and was part of the legendary Barcelona team that won nearly every title it competed for. Villa also won Copas del Rey with both Real Zaragosa and Valencia, and won a shock league title with Atlético de Madrid, at the height of the Barcelona-Real Madrid duopoly in Spanish soccer.
Before his final match, Villa was honored by Vissel Kobe, and fans made an impressive tifo for the forward.
