The curtain has officially fallen on the illustrious careers of several football icons in 2025. As the year draws to a close, the sport bids farewell to a generation of players who defined an era, including the legendary former Barcelona duo of Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.
Inter Miami Duo Bows Out with MLS Glory
The most prominent retirements came from the United States, where Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba ended their careers on the highest note possible. Both players had confirmed that the MLS Cup final against Vancouver Whitecaps FC would be their last professional match. They led Inter Miami to a 3-1 victory, securing the trophy alongside former teammate Lionel Messi.
Busquets, widely considered one of the greatest defensive midfielders ever, spent most of his career at Barcelona before moving to Inter Miami in 2023. His final match capped a career with 38 trophies, including multiple UEFA Champions League titles and the 2010 FIFA World Cup with Spain.
Jordi Alba, renowned as one of the best left-backs of his generation, also joined Inter Miami in 2023. A product of Barcelona's La Masia academy, he retired after the MLS Cup final alongside his long-time colleague Busquets.
A Wave of High-Profile Retirements Across the Globe
The year 2025 was not just about the Inter Miami stars. A host of other celebrated footballers from around the world also decided to hang up their boots.
Marcelo, the legendary Real Madrid left-back, ended his career back at his first club, Fluminense in Brazil. His second stint at the club ended abruptly after a reported on-pitch argument with the manager led to his contract termination. He announced his retirement six months later, leaving behind a legacy that includes five UEFA Champions League titles with Real Madrid.
France's 2018 World Cup winner, Samuel Umtiti, also retired. The central defender, whose career was famously impacted by playing through a knee injury to win the World Cup, never fully regained his peak fitness. He played for clubs including Barcelona and Lyon.
In goal, Spanish veteran Pepe Reina called time on his career at the age of 43 after leaving Italian club Como. Notably, he was sent off in his final professional match against Inter Milan.
German defensive stalwart Mats Hummels announced his retirement in April 2025 while with AS Roma. However, he played his final farewell match for Borussia Dortmund in a friendly against Juventus, closing a career that featured successful spells with both Dortmund and Bayern Munich.
The Changing of the Guard in World Football
The mass exodus of talent in 2025 marks a significant changing of the guard in international football. Interestingly, the allure of playing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States was not enough to persuade these veterans to extend their careers further.
Their departures create a void for both their clubs and national teams, paving the way for a new generation of stars to emerge. The retirements of such decorated players underscore the relentless, cyclical nature of professional sports, where every era must eventually come to an end.
