The year 2021 is drawing to a close, and while there have been some outstanding performances all around, several prominent players have decided to hang up their boots. We take a look at five of the best football players who retired in 2021.
Top 5 football players who retired in 2021
Sergio Aguero
Sergio Aguero, an Argentina, and Manchester City hero were forced to retire at the age of 33 owing to a cardiac problem, with doctors advising the striker that continuing to play football would be a risk.
Aguero, who scored 260 goals for City and is their all-time leading goalscorer, will go down in history as one of the best strikers of his generation and probably the greatest player in City’s history. In addition, the striker appeared in almost 100 games for Argentina, scoring 41 goals.
Arjen Robben
Arjen Robben, one of the best wingers in the world, declared his retirement from the sport in July 2021, when he was simply unplayable.
During his career, the 37-year-old winger played for several great clubs but is best remembered for his stint with Bayern Munich, where he made 309 appearances in ten years and helped the club win eight Bundesliga titles and the 2013 Champions League. Robben also played 96 times for Holland, helping them reach the finals of the 2010 World Cup.
Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney, the all-time leading goalscorer for England and Manchester United, retired in January 2021 after taking over as manager of Derby County. Between 2004 and 2017, the striker was outstanding for United, guiding them to a slew of titles and establishing himself as one of the top attackers in the Premier League.
Sami Khedira
Sami Khedira could play anywhere in midfield, with the German potentially going unnoticed during his career and not receiving the praise he earned for his on-field exploits. During his career, the 34-year-old has played for Real Madrid and Juventus and was a key member of Germany’s World Cup-winning group in 2014.
Mario Mandzukic
Mario Mandzukic was another player who was underappreciated during his career, despite putting in regular performances for Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid, and Juventus. The 35-year-old striker was also a member of the Croatian team that reached the 2018 World Cup final, and he has won awards in several other divisions.
Read: Top 10 goalkeepers in the UEFA Champions League with the most clean sheets
