Retirement
Player retiring from competition.
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Steveson says vacant UFC heavyweight belt could lure Jones out of retirement
Olympic wrestling champion Gable Steveson believes the newly vacated UFC heavyweight title could tempt his training partner Jon Jones back to the Octagon, with the belt now open after Tom Aspinall's departure.
MMA -
Ronald Koeman's wife Bartina dies at 65 after breast cancer battle
Ronald Koeman announced on Wednesday that his wife Bartina has died at the age of 65 following a battle with breast cancer. The former Netherlands manager, who stepped down after this year's World Cup citing her illness, shared a tribute on social media.
Football -
Messi recalled to Argentina squad two weeks after announcing international retirement
Lionel Messi, who announced his international retirement at the end of August, has been called up by Lionel Scaloni for a farewell match against Benin on October 6 at the Monumental in Buenos Aires.
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James Rodríguez retires from Colombia at 35 after 131 caps and 2014 World Cup Golden Boot
James Rodríguez has announced his retirement from international football after a 15-year Colombia career spanning 131 appearances, 31 goals, and a 2014 World Cup Golden Boot that launched him onto the global stage.
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Messi to receive farewell send-off against Benin after announcing international retirement
Lionel Messi will make one final appearance for Argentina in a farewell match against Benin on 6 October at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, confirmed AFA president Claudio Tapia, following the 39-year-old's retirement from international football.
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James Rodriguez retires from Colombia after 127 caps and Copa America final
At 35, James Rodriguez announced on Tuesday the end of his international career. The playmaker for Atlético Nacional leaves the Colombian national team after 127 caps and 34 goals, including a Copa America final in 2024.
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James Milner returns to Liverpool Academy as Robertson prepares for emotional Anfield homecoming
James Milner has quietly returned to Liverpool's Academy in a coaching capacity after retiring this summer, while former captain Andy Robertson is set to face his old club at Anfield in the Carabao Cup third round.
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Tom Aspinall vacates UFC heavyweight title after eye injuries end his reign
Tom Aspinall has relinquished the UFC heavyweight championship after persistent eye complications — stemming from fouls in his October 2025 no-contest with Ciryl Gane — left him unable to obtain medical clearance to fight. The 33-year-old Briton says his return timeline remains unclear but insists he is not retiring.
MMA -
Edouard Mendy retires from international football, first challenge for Vieira at Senegal
Appointed Senegal manager just weeks ago, Patrick Vieira must already find a new number one goalkeeper after Edouard Mendy, 34, announced his international retirement.
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Four hundred professional matches, now on minimum wage: Christophe Deguerville's quiet career change
Former left-back for Saint-Etienne, Lyon and Bastia with over 400 professional appearances, Christophe Deguerville now works stocking shelves in a supermarket, apparently without bitterness.
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Finn Russell vows to avoid past mistakes as he weighs Scotland future beyond 2027 World Cup
Finn Russell has refused to set a retirement timeline, saying he will play as long as he is enjoying the game. The Scotland fly-half has two seasons remaining on his £1m-a-year Bath contract and will be 35 by the time the 2027 World Cup in Australia concludes.
Rugby -
How Schumacher's retirement announcement at Monza 20 years ago reshaped Formula 1
On 10 September 2006, moments after winning the Italian Grand Prix, Michael Schumacher announced he would retire from Formula 1 at the end of the season — a decision that saved Felipe Massa's Ferrari seat and ended one of the sport's defining eras.
Formula 1 -
Messi closes in on second Spanish club purchase months after Argentina retirement
Lionel Messi has reached an agreement in principle to acquire 100 per cent of C.D. Eldense, a Segunda División side currently 20th in the table. The deal would make the Inter Miami forward the owner of two Spanish clubs, having bought fifth-tier UE Cornella in April.
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Sue Day leads five-strong World Rugby Hall of Fame class of 2026
Red Roses record try-scorer Sue Day headlines the latest World Rugby Hall of Fame inductees, joining USA legend Jen Crawford, three-time World Cup winner Rochelle Martin, and men's internationals Abdelatif Benazzi and Diego Dominguez in the class of 2026.
Rugby -
Marc Overmars resigns as Royal Antwerp sporting director citing serious health concerns
Marc Overmars has stepped down as sporting director of Royal Antwerp with immediate effect, revealing in an open letter that years of accumulated fatigue and stress have left his energy "completely depleted" and that continuing risks a serious medical outcome.
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Gérard Farison, Iconic Left-Back of Saint-Etienne's Golden Era, Dies at 77
A cornerstone of AS Saint-Etienne's glorious 1970s period, Gérard Farison passed away on September 8, 2021, at the age of 77. Injured before the final, he was unable to play in the legendary 1976 European Cup final against Bayern Munich, remembered for its two crossbar hits.
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Diego Sanchez arrested for drunk driving, violating probation from 2025 gun charges
Retired UFC fighter Diego Sanchez was arrested in Socorro County, New Mexico, on Monday on charges of aggravated DUI and probation violation. The arrest comes months after Sanchez received five years of supervised probation — which included a ban on alcohol — following a guilty plea on a felony gun charge.
MMA -
Mbappé Sets His Own Limit: «The Day We Lose Our Hunger, We Must Stop»
Ahead of Real Madrid's Champions League clash with Inter Milan, Kylian Mbappé revealed his vision for the end of his international career with France: he will leave the national team when he loses his hunger to win.
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Retired UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman steps into the commentary booth at DWCS
Chris Weidman is set to make his commentary debut on Week 5 of Dana White's Contender Series Season 10 on September 8, joining Laura Sanko and Dan Hellie for the five-fight card at Meta Apex in Las Vegas.
MMA -
Covington says UFC exit was temporary, demands big fights to end retirement
Colby Covington has clarified that his departure from the UFC following his 2024 loss to Joaquin Buckley was not a permanent retirement, saying he will return to MMA if the promotion offers him marquee matchups.
MMA
