Many footballers who once lifted the World Cup and ignited nationwide celebrations quietly stepped away from the game in 2025. From roaring stadiums to silent goodbyes, several iconic champions of men’s and women’s football chose this year to close the final chapter of their illustrious careers.
These players were not just winners — they were symbols of eras, memories, and dreams fulfilled on football’s grandest stage.
World Cup Heroes Who Retired in 2025
Spain’s midfield general Sergio Busquets, a cornerstone of the 2010 World Cup-winning side, officially retired in December 2025. After a glittering career of over 750 matches and 32 trophies with Barcelona, Busquets reunited with Lionel Messi at Inter Miami and ended his career by lifting the MLS Cup.
“𝑩𝒖𝒔𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒕𝒔 𝒅𝒆𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒏 𝒆𝒓𝒂 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒆𝒅,” 𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒇𝒐𝒐𝒕𝒃𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒂𝒏𝒂𝒍𝒚𝒔𝒕𝒔 𝒓𝒆𝒇𝒍𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕.
Another member of Spain’s golden generation, Pepe Reina, also called time on his career in 2025. A veteran of four World Cups and more than 900 club appearances, Reina transitioned into coaching and now leads Villarreal’s Under-19 side.
Germany’s defensive wall Jerome Boateng, a key figure in the 2014 World Cup triumph, announced his retirement in September. He played every knockout minute during Germany’s title run in Brazil.
His teammate Mats Hummels, who scored crucial goals against Portugal and France in the same tournament, stepped away from football in May after his stint at Roma. Meanwhile, Christoph Kramer, who famously started the 2014 final before suffering a head injury, also retired quietly in 2025.
France’s World Cup-winning squad from 2018 saw two notable exits. Goalkeeper Steve Mandanda, a long-time leader and reserve keeper during France’s triumph, ended his 555-match club career in September. Defender Samuel Umtiti, remembered for his decisive semi-final goal against Belgium, retired at just 31 due to persistent injuries.
“𝑾𝒊𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝑪𝒖𝒑 𝒊𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 — 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒐𝒅𝒚 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒊𝒕𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒎𝒊𝒕𝒔,” 𝑼𝒎𝒕𝒊𝒕𝒊 𝒐𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒅 𝒅𝒖𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒔𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒐𝒏.
Women’s World Cup Champions Also Say Goodbye
Alongside the men, several legendary women footballers also hung up their boots in 2025. Two-time winners Tobin Heath and Kristen Press officially retired, bringing an end to a dominant era for the United States women’s football.
Japan’s former World Cup champion Yukari Kinga, USA defender Megan Klingenberg, and Spain’s midfield star Claudia Zornoza also bid farewell, marking a significant generational shift in women’s football.
These retirements signal more than just the end of careers — they mark the closing of a golden chapter in history, where legends gave fans unforgettable moments that will live on long after the final whistle.
Also Read: Toni Kroos Rules Out Argentina, Brazil as World Cup Winners
