Even if some people don't want to admit it, a professional career as a top athlete cannot last forever. The year 2024 therefore marked the end of many great stories. Three world soccer champions, led by Andrés Iniesta, tennis legend Rafael Nadal and the first female Basketball player to win the WNBA with three different teams bid farewell to their fans.
34 years old, footballer
The winner of the 2014 World Cup spent the best years of his career at Real Madridwith whom he won four Spanish championship titles and dominated the Champions League five times. Before theEurohe announced his return to the selection German, but also, surprisingly, the end of his career. “I am happy to still be able to help the national team and German football, although I hoped to complete my comeback by winning the European title”declared the best German footballer of 2024, shortly after the defeat againstSpain.
40 years old, footballer
Another winner of the World Cup (2010) and double European champion withSpainhe linked his career almost exclusively to FC Barcelona. It was in the jersey of the great Catalan club that Iniesta made his debut in 2002. With the Blaugranasthis unique midfielder has won four trophies of the Champions League and celebrated the title of champion of Spain nine times. After 674 matches in the famous jersey, he moved to Japan in 2018, where he played for the Vissel Kobeand last year he went to Saudi Arabia to finish his career.
“I didn't expect this day. I never imagined it. But all these tears are tears of emotion and pride, not sadness. They are the tears of a boy who dreamed of being footballer and who, through hard work, effort and sacrifice, succeeded”the conclusion Iniesta.
31 years old, footballer
Not to be outdone by these world champions, the French Earlywho rose to the top of football in 2018, also said goodbye to his career in 2024. The central defender played for Real Madrid from 2011 to 2021 and, in addition to four victories in Champions Leaguealso won three Spanish titles with the club. He has 93 caps and five goals in French team. Early last played in Serie A for the promoted Comobut he only played one match with the Italian team and retired due to a serious injury. Before that, he spent three years Manchester Unitedwith whom he won the FA Cup. Joel Matip et Thiago Alcantara also said goodbye to professional football.
38 years old, tennis player
No need to give a long presentation. Nadal spent 209 weeks at the top of the world rankings and won 92 tournaments, including 22 Grand Slams. Only his long-time rival, the Serbian Novak Djokovicachieved more success in major tournaments. He is without a doubt one of the best players in the history of tennis. And no one can dispute his dominance on clay. During his illustrious career, he set several records that will be very difficult to beat. And it's not just about success on the slowest surface.
37 years old, tennis player
Earlier this year, another member of the legendary Big Four, Murrayretired from the world of professional tennis. The British player had already said goodbye during his national Grand Slam, Wimbledonwhere he won two of his three major titles, in 2013 and 2016. He did not end his career until almost a month later, at the Paris Olympics. Murrayas Nadalhas been plagued by injuries in recent years, which, along with his increasing age, have been the main reasons for his retirement from tennis.
31 years old, tennis player
The Austrian tennis player decided to quit mainly due to constant wrist problems. This injury ruined almost his entire 2021 season and he never regained his best level after his return. The former winner of theUS Open still said goodbye at his home in Vienna. The circuit WTA has also lost its stars in recent years. Two world number ones and Grand Slam champions, Angelique Kerber et Garbiñe Muguruzasaid their goodbyes.
39 years old, basketball player
In NBAwhere he was voted best defensive player in 2013, he started at Memphiswhere he played for 11 years. He then left to Toronto and celebrated a title with the Canadian team in 2019. He finished his career in NBA with the Los Angeles Lakers. He played 891 games in the league, averaging 14 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game. His older brother, Pauended his brilliant career, during which he was notably a two-time NBA champion, in 2021, then extended his career with his original club, the Basketball Gironawhich he founded in 2014. The Spanish player also won two gold medals at the world championships and two silver medals at the Olympic Games.
Aaron Donald
33 years old, American footballer
Donald ended his professional career with the business card of one of the best defenders in the NFL. The Pittsburgh native spent ten seasons in American soccer's most famous competition, all with Los Angeles Rams. He helped them win the Super Bowl in 2022 and is one of three men to be named the team's best linebacker three times. NFL. According to Spotrac, he earned $171 million (€164 million) during his career and can hope to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
35 years old, footballer
The double world champion, who has 224 caps with the UNITED STATESannounced that she was going to be a mother for the second time and that she had decided to retire from professional football. Morganwho already has a four-year-old daughter, was part of the team that won the gold medal at the 2015 World Cups et 2019and also won a silver medal in 2011. She won an Olympic gold medal with Team USA in London in 2012. She won a bronze medal in Tokyo in 2021 and missed selection in Paris This year. With 123 goals, she is the fifth highest scorer in the history of the American national team.
38 years old, basketball player
The double Olympic champion announced her decision two weeks before the start of the new season of the WNBAwhich she became the first player to win with three different teams. The first pick of the 2008 draft spent 16 seasons overseas. She won her first title in 2016 with the Los Angeles Sparks and won another three years ago with the Chicago Sky. Parker also entered the history of WNBA becoming the first female basketball player to win Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season. She also won the Finals MVP in 2016 and the competition's best defensive player four years ago. She was champion with theUnited States team to Beijing Olympics in 2008 and London in 2012.
