Iker Casillas

SPAIN and Real Madrid legend Iker Casillas tweeted that he is gay - before later removing the post.The World Cup-winning former goalkeeper appeared to.

And of course, more apologies to the LGBT community." [Jake Daniels came out in May](https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/18588281/jake-daniels-blackpool-striker-reveals-gay/) following the likes of American Collin Martin and [Australian star Josh Cavallo](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/16547230/josh-cavallo-gay-footballer/). [Real Madrid](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/team/1250296/real-madrid/) and spent 25 years with the club, making 725 first-team appearances. He won five LaLiga crowns and three Champions League, captaining the side before leaving in 2015 to join Porto - where he spent the final four seasons of his career. [quit football after a heart attack](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/8983342/casillas-posts-picture-hospital/), said in an emotional Instagram post at the time: “Both Sara and I feel enormously proud of the family we are and of having shared a love that has filled us with happiness during all our years together. “Our priority is, through affection and compromise, to share the wellbeing and education of our children and protect them so they grow in a stable and healthy environment. Apologies to all my followers. [Spain](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/team/1196716/spain/) won the World Cup and have helped each other through serious health scares during their five-year marriage. “These will be the only public words we issue for the time being and in the future. [model Sara Carbonero admitted their love had "taken separate paths"](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/14326848/real-madrid-spain-iker-casillas-split/) back in March 2021 but said they would remain close to continue the "marvellous job" of raising their two children. The 41-year-old, father to Martin, nine, and Lucas, six, with Sara, added: “The respect, affection and friendship will remain for ever. The retired goalie and presenter and

Iker Casillas appeared to come out as gay, with the ex-Real Madrid star asking for 'respect' in a Twitter post, but news soon emerged that his claim may ...

These will be the only public words we issue for the time being and in the future. Today our love as a couple takes different but not distant paths since we'll continue together in the marvellous task of continuing to be devoted parents as we have been up until now. "With these words we ask you please to respect our privacy in this moment of change. But less than two hours later and Casillas, [who retired in 2020 after suffering a cardiac arrest](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/breaking-iker-casillas-retires-football-22467059) during training with final club [Porto](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/fc-porto), had taken his tweet down. The respect, affection and friendship will remain for ever. In November the following year, the couple announced that they were expecting their second child. Spending a total of 25 years with Real Madrid, whom he joined at the age of nine, the Los Blancos hero lifted a whopping 19 trophies, while also captaining the team from 2010 until his departure in 2015. Their official partnership would last for five years until last March when their separation was announced. The shot-stopper famously kissed the reporter following Spain's triumph at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, when La Roja famously beat the "It's a difficult journey that any LGBTQ+ ppl have to go through. Casillas was married to sports journalist Sara Carbonero for five years before their separation in March 2021, having had two children together, both boys. Soon after their split, Casillas began dating Carbonero.

If the message is not a joke, the former goalkeeper would be one of the most high profile footballers to come out.

These will be the only public words we issue for the time being and in the future. Casillas made 725 appearances for Real Madrid, winning five La Liga titles and three Champions League finals during his 25 years with the club. "With these words we ask you please to respect our privacy in this moment of change. Today our love as a couple takes different but not distant paths since we'll continue together in the marvellous task of continuing to be devoted parents as we have been up until now. The respect, affection and friendship will remain for ever. Casillas was married to Sara Carbonero, a sports journalist, for 12 years and was married to her for five years before they split up last year.

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However not all responses were not as tolerant. One person wrote: “This will hopefully be huge for men’s football – a player of his calibre and standing being courageous enough to share this. And with the same action…” Iker Casillas has deleted the tweet in which he appeared to come out as gay. #happySunday.” [Champions League](/topic/champions-league) winner and World Cup winner made the announcement on [social media](/topic/social-media) on Sunday (9 October).

The former Spain goalkeeper made the announcement via social media on Sunday.

[Rangers](https://twitter.com/DR_Rangers) and [Celtic](https://twitter.com/DR_Celtic) podcast pages and sign up to our [newsletters](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/newsletter-preference-centre/) to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season. [European Championships](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/all-about/european-championships) as well as five Champions League trophies and three [Champions Leagues](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/all-about/champions-league) and was widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers of his generation. #felizdomingo". #felizdomingo" which translates to "I hope you respect me: I'm gay. Tens of thousands of fans jumped onto the 41-year-old's post with supportive messages with his former [Spain](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/all-about/spain-football-team) team mate Puyol commenting saying, "Es el momento de contar lo nuestro, Iker" meaning "It's time to tell our story, Iker." He tweeted: "Espero que me respeten: soy gay.

Casillas posted the tweet on Sunday; former Barcelona captain Carles Puyol responded to Casillas tweet. Translated, it read: Its time to tell our story, ...

To see my role models and legends of the game make fun out of coming out and my community is beyond disrespectful." Casillas posted the tweet on Sunday; former Barcelona captain Carles Puyol responded to Casillas' tweet. Translated, it read: "It's time to tell our story, Iker."

The former goalkeeper was previously married to sports journalist Sara Carbonero for five years before their separation in March 2021, having had two children ...

And of course, more apologies to the LGBT community." "Apologies to all my followers. The former centre-back posted: "It's time to tell out story, Iker."

Ex-Real Madrid and Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas deletes a Tweet that announced he was gay - saying his account was hacked.

He later joined the club's coaching staff. "It's a difficult journey that any LGBTQ+ people have to go through. All my respect and support for the LGTBIQA+ community." Sorry for a clumsy joke with no bad intentions and totally out of place. Apologies to all my followers." Casillas later tweeted: "Hacked account.

Former Barcelona captain Carles Puyol responded to Casillas now-deleted tweet, posting: Its time to tell them about us.

A Stonewall Spokesperson said: "It is disappointing to see homophobic 'jokes' being made at the expense of LGBTQ+ players and fans. At Stonewall, we'll continue to fight for a better world where LGBTQ+ people can play the sports we love as ourselves." "This is why these situations are so damaging. And of course, more apologies to the LGBT community.' All my respect and support for the LGBTQ+ community." Apologies to all my followers.

Real Madrid and Spain legend Iker Casillas made headlines on Sunday by tweeting that he was gay, but now the ex-goalkeeper has claimed that his Twitter ...

He tweeted: "Instead of apologize and recognize the mistake rather lie to everyone." And of course, more apologies to the LGBT community." All my respect and support for the LGTBIQA+ community." "It's a difficult journey that any LGBTQ+ ppl have to go through. Josh Cavallo, the Australian player who bravely came out as gay last October and has fought discrimination since, shared his disappointment regarding the situation and tweeted his thoughts. Their first son, Martin, was born in January 2014. Sorry for a clumsy joke with no bad intentions and totally out of place. After receiving widespread support and appraisal for his social media statement, news began to emerge that Casillas was joking. Attempting to clear up the incident, Casillas wrote: "Hacked account. Apologies to all my followers. [Real Madrid](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/real-madrid-cf) and [Spain](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/spain-football-team) goalkeeper's [Carles Puyol](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/carles-puyol) responded to the tweet and said: "The time has come to tell our story, Iker". The Real Madrid legend then received a wave of backlash, with fans, players and pundits alike furious that he'd seemingly made a joke over such a difficult issue for so many inside and outside of football.

Legendary Real Madrid and Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas claimed his Twitter account had been hacked after he earlier appeared to come out as gay.

And of course, more apologies to the LGBT community.” Apologies to all my followers. After a period of silence from the pair, Casillas then took to social media to claim he had been hacked as he offered an explanation for the message.