Retirement news — SportsCatch

Ronaldo admits 2026 World Cup was one too many at 41

Eliminated by Spain in his sixth World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo has acknowledged it was his last appearance. Ronaldo R9, a two-time World Cup winner, also believes the Portuguese star no longer had the level to shine on the world stage.

Football Jul 17

Jones rules out boxing Usyk but keeps UFC return door open as he mentors Steveson

Jon Jones has flatly rejected the idea of a boxing match with Oleksandr Usyk, saying he refuses to "handicap" himself by fighting only with his hands. The UFC Hall of Famer adds he remains in the promotion's testing pool and has not ruled out a return to the octagon.

MMA Jul 17

Romane Ménager retires at 29 after recurring concussions end France career

France back-row Romane Ménager has announced her retirement at 29 after repeated concussions made a return to top-level rugby impossible. The 68-cap international won two Grand Slams and two French championships across a career spanning more than two decades.

Rugby Jul 16

Ben Askren to retire after RAF 11 bout, one year on from double lung transplant

Ben Askren has confirmed his match against Belal Muhammad at RAF 11 in Milwaukee will be his last, coming just one year after the former UFC fighter underwent a double lung transplant following a life-threatening bout of pneumonia.

MMA Jul 16

Garbrandt hints at UFC future after knockout loss to Yanez at UFC 329

Cody Garbrandt has broken his silence following a first-round knockout defeat to Adrian Yanez at UFC 329 in Las Vegas, posting a message on Instagram that suggests the former bantamweight champion is not ready to retire.

MMA Jul 15

Record-breaking referee Barrett-Theron steps away from rugby after breast cancer diagnosis

Aimee Barrett-Theron, the most-capped female Test referee in rugby history with 52 internationals, has stepped away from officiating with immediate effect after being diagnosed with breast cancer. The 39-year-old South African says her condition is treatable and she aims to return to the field within months.

Rugby Jul 15

Messi targets 2026 World Cup semifinal as retirement question hangs over Argentina icon

Lionel Messi has scored eight goals in six matches at the 2026 World Cup — level with Kylian Mbappé for the tournament lead — as Argentina prepare to face England in the semifinal. The 39-year-old has declined to set a firm retirement date, saying he will play as long as he can contribute.

Football Jul 15

Coroner rules repeated heading caused Nobby Stiles' fatal brain condition

A coroner has ruled that repeatedly heading a football contributed to the death of 1966 World Cup winner Nobby Stiles, after expert testimony confirmed the England and Manchester United midfielder developed CTE from an estimated 140,000 headers during his career.

Football Jul 15

Cyborg reveals plan to start a family after retirement fight against Vieira at PFL Tampa

Cris Cyborg, 41, has confirmed she will retire from MMA after facing Ketlen Vieira at PFL Tampa on Aug. 22, with plans to start a family. The former UFC champion also has one boxing bout scheduled before closing out her competitive career.

MMA Jul 15

Khabib reveals UFC contract bars him from fighting anywhere else — even in retirement

Undefeated former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov has disclosed he remains bound by an exclusive UFC contract that would prevent him from competing for any other promotion, even decades after his 2020 retirement.

MMA Jul 15

Retired Poirier names Khabib as the strongest fighter he ever faced in UFC career

Dustin Poirier has named Khabib Nurmagomedov as the most physically imposing opponent of his career, saying the undefeated Russian felt like he 'weighed a 1000 pounds' during their 2019 lightweight title fight at UFC 242.

MMA Jul 15

Micah Richards sets 2034 deadline to quit punditry as Shearer commits to BBC role

Micah Richards has announced he will step away from all mainstream media after the 2034 World Cup to pursue community work in his hometown of Chapeltown, Leeds. His BBC colleague Alan Shearer, meanwhile, has made clear he has no plans to leave his punditry role.

Football Jul 15

Retired and unbeaten, Khabib claims his wrestling is sharper now than during his UFC title reign

Khabib Nurmagomedov, who retired undefeated as UFC lightweight champion in 2020, says his grappling has improved dramatically since then and that he had not yet reached his prime when he walked away from the sport.

MMA Jul 15

Franck Leboeuf elevated to Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour for his charitable work

1998 World Cup champion Franck Leboeuf has been elevated to Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour in the July 14, 2026 promotion, in recognition of his role as ambassador for the Bleuet de France association.

Football Jul 14

Bilic's return to Croatia could convince Modric to extend international career

Luka Modric was planning to retire from international football after the 2026 World Cup, but Slaven Bilic's return as Croatia's head coach — a man he has worked with before — could change his mind, according to Spanish newspaper AS.

Football Jul 14

Retired Poirier would end hiatus to face McGregor in welterweight bout IV

Dustin Poirier says he would come out of retirement to fight Conor McGregor for a fourth time, and is open to moving up to welterweight at 170 lbs. McGregor is recovering from a knee injury suffered in his first-round stoppage loss to Max Holloway at UFC 329.

MMA Jul 14

Messi faces England for first time as Waddle predicts 2026 World Cup will be his last

Lionel Messi meets England in Wednesday's World Cup semi-final — a fixture that former winger Chris Waddle believes will be the 39-year-old's final appearance at a World Cup, with the Argentina captain chasing back-to-back titles.

Football Jul 13

Micah Richards plans to quit TV punditry before the 2034 World Cup to give back to grassroots football

Micah Richards has revealed he intends to leave all mainstream broadcasting by the time he turns 46, stepping away from the BBC, Sky Sports and CBS Sports after the 2034 World Cup to focus on grassroots community work.

Football Jul 13

Pimblett reveals retirement fears before UFC 329 — then Gaethje's upset reignited him

Paddy Pimblett admits he considered quitting MMA if he lost to Benoit St. Denis at UFC 329, but Justin Gaethje's shock lightweight title win over Ilia Topuria two days later gave him the spark he needed to secure a first-round submission.

MMA Jul 13

De Bruyne and Courtois cast doubt over Belgium futures after World Cup exit to Spain

Kevin De Bruyne and Thibaut Courtois have both stopped short of committing to Belgium after a 2-1 World Cup elimination by Spain. De Bruyne, 35, wants a break following hamstring surgery, while Courtois may retire internationally if the federation rejects his request for a Nations League sabbatical.

Football Jul 13