TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Former Barcelona icon Andres Iniesta bid farewell to his playing career in style on Sunday, setting up the winner in his star-studded retirement exhibition match between past luminaries of the Spanish club and their archrivals Real Madrid dubbed "El Clasico in Tokyo."

The former Vissel Kobe midfielder showed his touch was as assured as ever throughout the 90 minutes in front of 45,725 at a packed Ajinomoto Stadium, where he clinched the late 2-1 victory by forcing an own goal as he chipped in a cross from the left byline.

The enticing lineup included Rafael Marquez, Sergi, Gaizka Mendieta, Xavi Hernandez, Iniesta, Ludovic Giuly, Rivaldo and Javier Saviola starting for Barcelona, while Real Madrid fielded Iker Casillas, Roberto Carlos, Fabio Cannavaro, Ivan Campo, Steve McManaman, Christian Karembeu, Savio and Julio Baptista to mark the 40-year-old Iniesta's special occasion.

"Hello, everyone, and thank you," Iniesta said post-match in Japanese before switching to Spanish. "I'm really happy to have come back to Japan, a special place where I have spent so many years."

"Thank you to Real Madrid players for coming over to play here and also to the players of my team Barcelona for realizing this wonderful match...I'm grateful to have shared this moment with the fans in Japan. I'll never forget spending this time together for the rest of my life."

Iniesta, introduced last and drawing the biggest cheer from the fans before kickoff, played Saviola through on goal, but Iker Casillas denied the Argentine before Savio had his shot saved at the other end.

Xavi oozed class with his silky touches alongside Iniesta, and his backheel led to the 31st-minute opener, releasing Giuly to square the ball for Saviola to tap home.

Baptista was sharper than most of his teammates and had two penalty appeals waved away in the first half as Real saw Roberto Carlos go off injured within the opening 15 minutes. Substitute forward Edwin Congo hit the post in the 69th minute before he was knocked off in the air by Marquez to win a penalty, dispatched by Javier Balboa in the 78th minute.

Xavi and Giuly steered wide while Nolito's fierce shot to the far corner rattled the bar late on before Iniesta produced a moment of magic with a deft cross that Real players could not keep out.

Iniesta announced his retirement on Oct. 8 after an illustrious 24-year career that included four Champions League titles with Barcelona and his nation's one and only World Cup triumph in 2010, scoring the extra-time winner to beat the Netherlands 1-0 in the final.

The gifted playmaker spent five-and-a-half seasons with Kobe through the summer of 2023, helping them win their first major trophy, the Emperor's Cup, on New Year's Day 2020. He ended his career at the Emirates Club of the United Arab Emirates.

"He was a phenomenal presence both for Barcelona and Spain and spent a wonderful career," said defender Cannavaro, the 2006 World Cup-winning captain for Italy. "The football world might have lost a great star today, but his legacy will continue to live."

(By Morichika Nakamoto)