Divock Origi retires at 31, ending career defined by iconic Liverpool moments

Divock Origi has retired from professional football at the age of 31, the former Liverpool striker confirmed on social media, bringing the curtain down on a career built on moments that far outweighed his modest tally of starts.

Origi scored 41 goals in 175 appearances for Liverpool — only 68 of them from the beginning — yet managed to etch himself into Anfield folklore through the weight of the occasions he chose to deliver. His brace in the 4-0 Champions League semi-final second leg against Barcelona in May 2019 helped complete one of the most improbable comebacks in European football history, and he added a goal in the final victory over Tottenham in Madrid days later. That summer’s Champions League triumph remains the centrepiece of his legacy.

His stoppage-time winner in a Merseyside derby — the goal that prompted Jürgen Klopp to sprint the length of the touchline and embrace goalkeeper Alisson Becker — was among six he scored against Everton across his time at the club. Liverpool also lifted the Premier League title in 2020 with Origi in the squad.

The Belgian, who began his career at Lille before moving to Merseyside, joined AC Milan on a free transfer in 2022. A season-long loan at Nottingham Forest in 2024 proved to be his final chapter as a player; he terminated his contract with Milan in December 2024 and has now opted against seeking a new club.

In a statement posted to social media, Origi described his career as a fulfilled mission.

“My purpose in the game as a player is fulfilled,” he wrote. “I lived out my childhood dreams to play on the biggest stages and win the biggest trophies. I am grateful to God for all of it.”

“To my fans across the world who helped me shine: every iconic moment, every goal, every piece of history we made together will forever be ours. To every club, and all the coaches and teammates who stood beside me, thank you. You shaped me in ways that go far beyond the pitch. The mission is complete. Now I step into my next calling.”