Retirement
Player retiring from competition.
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Ronaldo hails Modrić a 'legend of football' after Croatia's World Cup exit ends their rivalry
Cristiano Ronaldo paid tribute to Luka Modrić after Portugal's 2-1 round-of-32 victory over Croatia in Toronto, a result that is widely expected to bring the 40-year-old midfielder's international career to a close.
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Ronaldo defers retirement call until after World Cup as 2030 appearance stays on the table
Cristiano Ronaldo refused to announce any decision on his international future after Portugal beat Croatia 2-1 to reach the World Cup Round of 16, saying he will decide once the tournament is over. Coach Roberto Martinez has backed the 39-year-old to compete at a record seventh World Cup in 2030.
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Ronaldo becomes oldest outfield player in World Cup knockout history as Portugal face Croatia
Cristiano Ronaldo, aged 41 years and 147 days, set a new record as the oldest player to appear in a World Cup knockout-stage match when Portugal faced Croatia in the round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Luka Modrić also started for Croatia, making it the first knockout game to feature two outfield players over 40.
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Ronaldo's sister claims Portugal's World Cup exit will end his international career
Katia Aveiro has suggested that elimination from the 2026 World Cup will mark the end of Cristiano Ronaldo's international career. The Portugal captain, 41, is appearing at his sixth World Cup and holds the men's record of 145 international goals.
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Ronaldo's sister reveals Portugal vs Croatia could be his international farewell
Katia Aveiro told Portuguese broadcaster SportTV before kick-off that a defeat against Croatia at the World Cup would end her brother's 23-year international career. Ronaldo, 41, started the round-of-32 clash in Toronto as Portugal's captain.
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One year on, Diogo Jota's final Instagram post remains a haunting tribute to family
Twelve months after Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva died in a car crash, the Liverpool forward's last Instagram post — a wedding video shared hours before the accident — endures as a deeply personal memorial.
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Jones praises UFC White House legacy after Dana White shut him out of the card
Jon Jones has expressed admiration for the UFC White House event despite being explicitly excluded from the card by Dana White. The former champion, who briefly retired in June 2025 before reversing course, says the historic show elevated MMA to a new level of prestige.
MMA -
Santi Cazorla retires at 41 after defying amputation threat to play on for a decade
Santi Cazorla has announced his retirement from professional football at 41, ending a career that included two FA Cup wins with Arsenal, two European Championship titles with Spain, and a remarkable recovery from an ankle injury that nearly cost him his foot.
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Walker stands firm on England retirement despite Rooney's World Cup recall plea
Kyle Walker has reaffirmed his international retirement after Wayne Rooney urged Thomas Tuchel to call the 96-cap right-back back into England's World Cup 2026 squad following injuries to Reece James and Tino Livramento.
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Cath O'Donnell retires at 30 after injuries end 30-cap Red Roses career
England lock Cath O'Donnell has retired from rugby at 30, citing a catalogue of serious injuries including ACL tears, ankle reconstructions and a broken femur across a 30-cap international career that included a 2021 Rugby World Cup final.
Rugby -
Matt Brown rallies behind Dustin Poirier after Atlanta airport arrest
UFC veteran Matt Brown has publicly defended retired star Dustin Poirier following his misdemeanour arrest for public drunkenness at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, urging fans not to let 'one night define' the former interim champion.
MMA -
Manuel Neuer retires from international football after Germany's World Cup exit on penalties
Manuel Neuer has confirmed his second and final retirement from international football after Germany were eliminated from the World Cup in the last 32, losing on penalties following a 120-minute draw with Paraguay. The 40-year-old ends a 16-year international career as Germany's fifth-highest appearance-maker.
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Manuel Neuer retires from international football again after Germany's World Cup penalty exit
Manuel Neuer, 40, has confirmed his second international retirement after Germany were eliminated by Paraguay on penalties at the World Cup. The Bayern Munich goalkeeper, who had been persuaded out of retirement to play the tournament, ends his international career with 128 caps.
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Matt Brown backs Dustin Poirier to recover after arrest and post-retirement struggles
Dustin Poirier was arrested for public drunkenness at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson Airport after challenging a police officer to a fight, with bodycam footage capturing the incident. Fellow retired UFC veteran Matt Brown has urged Poirier to own the moment and move forward, insisting one bad night should not define his legacy.
MMA -
Danny Simpson ends retirement to join Dubai club as player-coach alongside Shelvey and Morrison
Danny Simpson, who won the Premier League with Leicester City in 2016, has come out of retirement at 39 to sign for UAE Second Division side Arabian Falcons as a player-coach under manager Jonjo Shelvey.
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Ariane Lipski da Silva retires from MMA at 32 after 13 years and 30 professional fights
Ariane Lipski da Silva has announced her retirement from MMA following a first-round submission loss to Jena Bishop at PFL San Diego. The Brazilian flyweight, known as 'The Queen of Violence', ends her career with an 18-12 record after nearly 13 years as a professional.
MMA -
Packer scores twice and lifts trophy in perfect Saracens farewell before Harlequins move
Marlie Packer ended her nine-year Saracens career in style, crossing the whitewash twice as the North London side demolished Trailfinders Women 52-14 to claim their fourth Premiership Women's Rugby title at the Twickenham Stoop.
Rugby -
Jon Jones backs Dustin Poirier after airport arrest: 'We've all been drunk'
Jon Jones has publicly defended Dustin Poirier following the retired UFC star's arrest for public drunkenness at an Atlanta airport on Father's Day weekend, urging him to forgive himself and keep moving forward.
MMA -
Ariane Lipski da Silva retires after 13 years and 30 fights across UFC, KSW and PFL
Ariane Lipski da Silva, the Brazilian flyweight known as 'The Queen of Violence', has announced her retirement from MMA at 32 following a first-round submission loss to Jena Bishop at PFL San Diego. She finishes with an 18-12 professional record.
MMA -
France 1998 World Cup winner Guivarc'h left football at 31 to sell swimming pools
Stéphane Guivarc'h was a key figure in France's iconic 1998 World Cup triumph but walked away from football at 31 to become a swimming pool salesman, cutting ties with many former teammates in the process.
Football
