Retirement
Player retiring from competition.
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Messi announces international retirement after twenty years with Argentina
Lionel Messi officially ended his Argentina career on July 21, more than a month after the country's loss to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, 39, announced his decision on Instagram.
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Messi retires from international football after World Cup final defeat to Spain
Lionel Messi has ended his Argentina career following a 1-0 extra-time defeat to Spain in the World Cup final. The 39-year-old finishes with 207 caps and 125 goals across more than two decades of international football.
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Van Dijk hints at Netherlands future but demands respect before committing to Xavi era
Virgil van Dijk says he will meet new Netherlands manager Xavi before deciding whether to continue his international career. The 35-year-old Liverpool defender, four caps short of a century, insists he needs to feel valued and appreciated to carry on.
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Magomedsharipov ends seven-year absence with decision over UFC featherweight Zalal at ACBJJ 22
Zabit Magomedsharipov made his long-awaited return to competition at ACBJJ 22 in Istanbul on 30 August 2026, defeating UFC featherweight Youssef Zalal by unanimous decision in a grappling match — his first competitive outing since 2019.
MMA -
Running, beers and Desperate Housewives: Hazard describes his retirement without apologies
In a relaxed interview, Eden Hazard detailed his daily life since retirement: morning runs to lose weight, golf, padel, beers at the cafeteria and evenings watching Desperate Housewives.
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Teixeira rules out full retirement after boxing Shogun Rua, hints at influencer bouts next
Glover Teixeira came out of MMA retirement to box Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua at Spaten Fight Night 3 in São Paulo on Aug. 29, but the former UFC light heavyweight champion says the exhibition will not be his last fight.
MMA -
Herrera returns to boyhood Real Zaragoza and donates his entire salary to the club's foundation
Ander Herrera has rejoined Real Zaragoza, the club where he began his career, on a voluntary basis — waiving his salary entirely and directing it to the club's charitable foundation as they fight to escape the Spanish third division.
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Brady defends Din Thomas but questions timing of live retirement announcement after Robertson's UFC 330 loss
Sean Brady says he disagrees with how Din Thomas publicly announced his retirement from cornering moments after Gillian Robertson's strawweight title loss at UFC 330, but insists he still welcomes Thomas in his corner for his Nov. 7 clash with Gabriel Bonfim.
MMA -
Poirot confirms knee injury and reveals this will be his final professional season
Bordeaux-Bèglès and France loosehead Jefferson Poirot will miss six to eight weeks after spraining his knee, putting his Champions Cup opener in doubt. The 33-year-old also confirmed this will be his last season in professional rugby.
Rugby -
Retired fly-half Freddie Burns returns to Leicester as kicking coach
Freddie Burns has been appointed Leicester Tigers' kicking coach, returning to Welford Road after retiring at the end of last season. The former England fly-half, who was part of the club's 2022 Premiership title win, has signed a full-time contract.
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Makhachev targets 20-fight win streak before retirement after breaking Silva's UFC record
Islam Makhachev says he has at least three fights left before retiring, with the UFC welterweight champion chasing a 20-fight winning streak after surpassing Anderson Silva's all-time UFC record at UFC 330.
MMA -
Shogun Rua signals retirement after Glover Teixeira boxing bout in São Paulo
Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua says Saturday's eight-round boxing match against fellow former UFC champion Glover Teixeira in São Paulo is almost certainly his final fight, calling it a missing chapter from his MMA career.
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Retired drop-goal hero Freddie Burns set to return to Leicester Tigers as kicking coach
Leicester Tigers' cryptic social media teaser has pointed strongly to Freddie Burns rejoining Welford Road as kicking coach, weeks after the former England fly-half retired from playing and with the club needing to replace outgoing coach Alex Davies.
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Varane joins Zidane among EA FC 27 legends as ICON
EA FC 27 adds Raphaël Varane to ICON status in its Ultimate Team mode. The 2018 World Cup winner, retired since 2024, joins Zinedine Zidane, Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira in the game's pantheon.
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Sir Billy Boston, dual-code Welsh icon who scored 571 tries, dies aged 92
Sir Billy Boston, widely regarded as one of the greatest figures in Welsh sporting history, has died in hospital in Wigan aged 92. The rugby league legend scored 571 tries in 562 games and was knighted in June 2025, just four days before his death followed the funeral of his wife of 70 years.
Rugby -
NRL great Shaun Johnson reveals he came close to joining All Blacks Sevens in his mid-20s
Retired NRL halfback Shaun Johnson has disclosed that legendary All Blacks Sevens coach Gordon Tietjens once held talks with him about switching codes, making it the nearest he ever came to leaving rugby league during his decorated career.
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Retired Barboza likens Ruffy to Anderson Silva ahead of UFC 331 clash with Tsarukyan
Edson Barboza, recently retired from the UFC, has praised fellow Brazilian Mauricio Ruffy as an 'improved version' of himself and compared him to Anderson Silva, while likening Arman Tsarukyan to Khabib Nurmagomedov ahead of their Sept. 19 co-main event in Los Angeles.
MMA -
Barboza tells promoters to leave him alone after retiring from UFC at 39
Edson Barboza has firmly closed the door on an MMA comeback following his retirement after a fourth straight defeat at UFC 330, telling managers and promoters not to offer him fights as he plans to move into coaching.
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Scotland lock McMillan retires at 29 after rejecting contract over pay and mental toll
Louise McMillan has retired from international rugby at 29 after turning down a Scotland contract that would have required a significant pay cut. The Saracens lock cited financial reality, exhaustion from combining club rugby with a full-time job, and a loss of confidence under previous coaching staff.
Rugby -
Neuer becomes most decorated German footballer and hints at retirement at season's end
Manuel Neuer won his record 36th trophy with Bayern Munich in the German Super Cup victory over Borussia Dortmund (2-1), surpassing Thomas Müller. At 40 years old, the goalkeeper suggested that the 2024-2025 season could be his last.
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