Top 5 Players That Already Retired in 2026
The football world has witnessed the retirement of several big players who have left a mark on the football in 2025 including Marcelo, Marek Hamsík, and Mats Hummels. Here are five notable football players that already retired in 2026.
5. Sergio Romero
Sergio Romero, the Argentine goalkeeper known for his shot-stopping ability and calm presence between the posts, announced his retirement from professional football in March 2026 at the age of 39. Over a career spanning nearly two decades, he played for clubs including Racing Club, AZ Alkmaar, Sampdoria, AS Monaco, Manchester United, Venezia, Boca Juniors and Argentinos Juniors, making more than 200 senior appearances.
Romero enjoyed success in both club and international football, winning the Eredivisie title with AZ in 2009 and playing a key role in Manchester United’s 2016–17 UEFA Europa League triumph, where he started the final and kept a clean sheet. He later returned to Argentina, winning the league title with Boca Juniors before ending his career in his home country.
Internationally, he earned 96 caps for Argentina, making him the most-capped goalkeeper in the nation’s history. He was a central figure in Argentina’s run to the 2014 FIFA World Cup final, famously saving two penalties in the semi-final shootout against the Netherlands. Known for his reliability and professionalism, Romero leaves behind a legacy as one of Argentina’s most consistent goalkeepers of the modern era.
4. Mamadou Sakho
Mamadou Sakho, the French centre-back known for his physical strength, aggressive defending and leadership qualities, announced his retirement from professional football on January 12, 2026, at the age of 35. Over a career spanning nearly two decades, he played for clubs including Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool, Crystal Palace, Montpellier and Torpedo Kutaisi, making over 400 senior appearances.
Sakho rose through the youth ranks at Paris Saint-Germain, where he became the youngest captain in the club’s history and helped win the Ligue 1 title in 2013. He later moved to Liverpool in 2013, where he became a fan favourite, before continuing his career in the Premier League with Crystal Palace and returning to France with Montpellier.
Internationally, he earned 29 caps for France and played at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Known for his passion, commitment and strong personality on the pitch, Sakho leaves behind a career defined by intensity, resilience and leadership at the heart of defence. Now, Mamadou Sakho is entering a new chapter as a businessman.
3. Marco van Ginkel
Marco van Ginkel, the Dutch midfielder known for his intelligent movement, late runs into the box and goal-scoring ability from midfield, announced his retirement from professional football on February 5, 2026, at the age of 33. Over a career shaped by both promise and setbacks, he played for clubs including Vitesse, Chelsea, AC Milan, Stoke City, PSV Eindhoven and Boavista, making over 250 senior appearances.
Van Ginkel enjoyed his most successful period at PSV, where he won two Eredivisie titles in 2016 and 2018, often playing a key role in midfield and even captaining the side during one of those title-winning seasons. Earlier in his career, he was named Dutch Talent of the Year in 2013, which earned him a move to Chelsea, though his time in England was heavily disrupted by serious knee injuries that limited his impact.
Internationally, he earned 8 caps for the Netherlands, but injuries again prevented him from reaching his full potential at the highest level. Despite that, Van Ginkel remains remembered as a talented and complete midfielder whose career, marked by resilience and perseverance, showed glimpses of what could have been without recurring setbacks.
Check out the exclusive Life After Football interview with Marco van Ginkel, back when he played at Vitesse Arnhem here.
2. Miralem Pjanic
Miralem Pjanić, the Bosnian midfielder known for his vision, passing range and exceptional free-kick ability, announced his retirement from professional football on January 27, 2026, at the age of 35. Over a career spanning nearly two decades, he played for clubs including Metz, Lyon, AS Roma, Juventus, Barcelona, Beşiktaş, Sharjah and CSKA Moscow, making almost 500 club appearances and establishing himself as one of the most technically gifted midfielders of his generation.
Pjanić enjoyed his peak years in Serie A, particularly with Roma and Juventus, where he won four consecutive Serie A titles and multiple domestic trophies, while also reaching the UEFA Champions League final in 2017. He dictated the tempo of matches, regularly earned places in the Serie A Team of the Year, and built a reputation as one of Europe’s best deep-lying playmakers.
Internationally, he earned 115 caps for Bosnia and Herzegovina and played a key role in their first-ever major tournament at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Throughout his career, Pjanić was defined by intelligence rather than physicality, combining calm control with technical precision, and leaving behind a legacy as one of the most elegant midfielders of his era.
1. Dimitri Payet
Dimitri Payet, the French attacking midfielder known for his creativity, vision and exceptional set-piece ability, announced his retirement from professional football on March 22, 2026, at the age of 38. Over a career spanning more than two decades, he played for clubs including Nantes, Saint-Étienne, Lille, Olympique de Marseille, West Ham United and Vasco da Gama, making over 600 appearances and contributing more than 200 goals and assists combined.
Payet enjoyed some of his best years at Marseille, where he became a club icon across two spells, and at West Ham, where he was named in the PFA Team of the Year and won Hammer of the Year in the 2015–16 season. Internationally, he earned 38 caps for France and played a key role in their run to the UEFA Euro 2016 final. Although he never won a major trophy, Payet built a reputation as one of the most technically gifted players of his generation, famous for his free kicks, long-range goals and ability to decide games with moments of brilliance.
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Check out this story about the top 5 players that retired around the same time last year.
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