And only six months have passed.
Some of the best footballers of their generation ended their careers in 2025, including former stars of Liverpool, Manchester United, and Real Madrid. Of course, the list will always be updated, but this is what we have at the end of June.
Marcelo
The left-back position at Real Madrid is now closely associated with the Brazilian flag. Previously, Roberto Carlos was a hot commodity there, then Marcelo replaced him. Of course, many will argue that Carlos won’t eclipse anyone, but Marcelo spent nearly 15 years at Madrid and won more trophies than the former Anji player. In 2023, Marcelo moved to the shadows after a short stint at Olympiacos. The Brazilian is one of the few players to have won five Champions League titles with the same team. His name has gone down in history not only at Real Madrid, but throughout world football. Pepe Reina
It seemed as though Reina would play forever, but the 42-year-old goalkeeper called it a day in May 2025. One of the best goalkeepers of his generation, Reina began his career at Barcelona, then joined Villarreal, and in 2005, at Liverpool, beginning an eight-year career at Enfield. He played 394 games for the Reds, winning the FA Cup and the League Cup, and also reaching the 2007 Champions League final. Having won a few more trophies with Napoli and Bayern, Reina played for Milan, Lazio, Aston Villa, and Villarreal before joining Komo last summer. He left in style—he was taken off the field in his final game when they played Inter. He’s not sitting still—he’s already preparing for a new job.
In April 2025, Hummels announced that he would retire from his 18-year football career at the end of the season. The veteran defender, who turned 36 last December, stated on social media that the 2024/25 season with Roma would be his last. Hummels, who played a key role in Germany’s 2014 World Cup victory, began his career with Bayern Munich’s youth team and made his senior debut in 2007. Mats played 508 competitive matches for Borussia Dortmund and 118 for Bayern Munich. He is considered one of the best central defenders in the modern history of the Bundesliga.
Adam Lallan
Former England midfielder Lallan has retired at the age of 37. Havbek, who played 34 games for the three Lviv clubs, returned to Southampton last season, beginning a serious career there. He moved to Liverpool in 2014, winning the Premier League and the Champions League.
“I’m proud of my playing career and I don’t regret anything. I accept all the ups and downs, because they shaped me the way I am,” Lallan said recently.
Johnny Evans
Evans left football after his contract with Manchester United expired in May 2025. One of Northern Ireland’s most successful players, the 37-year-old defender has played a total of 240 games for United, winning three Premier League titles, the Champions League, and two FA Cups. He has also played for West Bromwich Albion and Leicester, becoming one of the most underrated defenders of his generation. There are rumors that Evans will remain at Old Trafford as manager next season. Felipa Mel
The striker enjoyed a successful career before retiring at the age of 41. He won 20 trophies with five clubs, as well as the Confederations Cup in 2009. Roberto Mancini praised the Brazilian, noting his character while playing for Inter: he was a real chain dog, often receiving yellow cards. He retired having earned 258 yellow cards in his career. He also played for Juventus, Galatasaray, Palmeiras, and Fluminense.
Toby Alderweeired
In November 2024, Alderweeired announced his retirement from professional football at the end of the 2024/25 season, having left the Belgian team a year earlier. I wanted to play for Antwerp in the European finals, but I couldn’t. In Russia, I remembered that Gennady Sergeyevich Orlov couldn’t pronounce his last name. However, it’s difficult to print it without errors, take a word for it.
Jan Vertongen
The former Tottenham defender announced in March that he would be retiring this summer. This came a year after the Anderlecht captain ended his international career with the Belgian national team, becoming the record holder for the most appearances for the Belgians – 157. Vertongen made Tottenham history, playing 315 matches for Spurs from 2012 to 2020. He left due to injuries, which plagued him for a long time.
Simon Kier
Kier finished his career at the age of 35, playing for Sevilla, Lille, Fenerbahce, Milan, Atalanta, Roma, Wolfsburg, and Palermo. His only trophy came in 2021, when he won the Serie A title with Milan. Simon also made history with the Danish national team, playing in three World Cups and two European Championships. He helped save Christian Ericksen, who lost consciousness on the pitch during Euro 2020. Carlos led
Led played for Arsenal and Real Socídad before moving to the USA in 2018. He played six seasons in Los Angeles, but in 2025, he was left without a club and decided to retire. Led made 72 appearances for the Mexican national team, scoring 19 goals.
Jose Kalihon
Caliehon officially announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 38. The alumnus of Real Madrid’s renowned academy made 78 appearances for Madrid’s first team from 2011 to 2013, winning La Liga under Jose Mourinho. The former Spanish national team player had a successful career, playing for clubs such as Granada, Espanyol, Napoli, and Fiorentina. Bonus: During this calendar year, Denis Glushakov, Tomash Gubochan, Alvaro Negredo, Dris Mertens, and Anton Shunin also announced their retirement.
Toby Alderweeired
Toby Alderweeired
About the Author
