In 2025, a large group of players left football. Both world celebrities and former top players of the Russian Premier League (RPL) ended their careers.
Ex-stars of the Russian Championship
Yuri Gazinsky
The former midfielder of the Russian national team ended his career at 36 years old. Gazinsky is a participant in the 2018 World Cup, where our national team reached the quarterfinals. It was Yuri who scored the first goal of the tournament – against Saudi Arabia. In total, he played 21 matches for the Russian national team and scored 1+2 using the “goal plus pass” system. At the club level, Gazinsky is known primarily for his performances for Krasnodar. Last season he won the first championship title for himself and the Krasnodar team. He scored one goal in three RPL games.
Denis Glushakov
Another former Russian national team midfielder retired from football at the age of 38. Glushakov has 57 matches for the national team, he scored 5+1. In October, Denis organized a farewell match, playing a half for the two main teams in his career – Lokomotiv and Spartak (with which he won the championship title in 2017). In the 2024/25 season, the midfielder spent the first part of the championship in Khimki, taking part in five RPL games. Then he left the Moscow region club and played in the media league for Rostov SKA.
Alexey Ionov
The ex-winger of the Russian national team played until he was 35 years old. He played 39 matches for the national team, in which he earned 4+4. Ionov won all his trophies at the club level at Zenit – the gold of the 2010 season, the UEFA Cup, the Russian Cup and two national Super Cups. Alexey started last season at Ural. In the First League he played 18 matches, scored two goals and made three assists. But he didn’t finish the championship. In January 2025, he decided to finish and became a coach at the Zenit Sports School.
Stanislav Kritsyuk
The former goalkeeper of the Russian national team retired at 34. Kritsyuk played only two matches for the national team, and made a name for himself in Portugal, where he played for Braga and other clubs. In 2013, Stanislav won the League Cup with Braga. However, the main trophy in Kritsyuk’s career is RPL gold with Zenit, in which he spent only one season, 2021/22. Injuries interrupted the goalkeeper’s high-level career. Stanislav started last season in Tyumen (six matches in the First League and the Russian Cup), and ended with football in the winter.
Grzegorz Krychowiak
The Polish midfielder hung up his boots at the age of 35. Krychowiak was not a star in European football, but he played for big clubs – PSG and Sevilla. He became the champion of France, and with the Spaniards he won the Europa League twice. He played in the RPL from July 2018 to March 2022 for Lokomotiv and Krasnodar. With Loko he won two Russian Cups and one Super Cup. The previous season was Grzegorz’s last. He played for Anorthosis in Cyprus, scoring 2+2 in 21 matches. Krychowiak also had a successful career in the Polish national team – exactly 100 matches, five goals and six assists.
Mauricio Pereira
The Uruguayan retired at the age of 35. Pereira is one of the best midfielders in the history of Krasnodar, for whom he played from February 2013 to July 2019. Mauricio played 201 matches for the Krasnodar team and scored 29+33. He was a candidate for the Uruguay national team, but never played for it. Pereira’s last season was the 2025 season with the Uruguayan Nacional. The midfielder took part in 26 matches and made two assists. And in December he announced that that was all.
Mario Fernandes
The “Russian Brazilian” said goodbye to football at the age of 35. The right back was naturalized for the Russian national team before the 2018 World Cup and he helped our national team successfully play at the home World Cup. In total, Fernandez played 33 matches for the Russian national team, scored five goals and gave three assists. After leaving Zenit in 2024, Mario remained a free agent, but in the summer of 2025 he tried to return to the RPL – he trained with Torpedo. But he was injured, and the Moscow club was expelled from the top division. Fernandez officially graduated in September. His collection of awards includes four RPL gold medals (three at CSKA and one at Zenit).
The ex-midfielder of the Russian national team last entered the field at the age of 35. Yusupov started last season at Khimki, then moved to Ural. Played seven matches in the First League and three in the cup tournament. But, like Ionov, he did not finish the championship: he retired from big-time football in January. Arthur won all his trophies – one Russian Cup and two national Super Cups – at Zenit. He played two matches for the national team, went to Euro 2016, where, however, he remained on the bench in all meetings.
Former world football stars
Toby Alderweireld
The Belgian defender decided to retire at the age of 36. Alververeld played in the Netherlands for Ajax, in Spain for Atlético Madrid and in England for Southampton and Tottenham. With the Amsterdam team he won three championship titles, with the Madrid team he took the Spanish Primera gold and reached the Champions League final. At Tottenham, Toby also had one unsuccessful Champions League final. In addition, Alderweireld has 127 caps for the Belgian national team, in which he scored 5+12. The defender competed at three world championships, and in 2018 he won bronze in Russia. In his final season in 2024/25, Toby scored three goals and made four assists in 34 appearances for Antwerp.
The Spanish defender left the profession at 36. Alba played most of his career at Barcelona, with which he won 18 trophies (including six league titles and a victory in the Champions League). Jordi played 93 matches for the Spanish national team, scored nine goals and made 22 assists. He won Euro 2012 with the national team and played in two World Championships. In the 2025 season, Alba played for Inter Miami. Together with Lionel Messi, he led the team to the first MLS (Major League of the USA and Canada) gold in its history. In 52 matches in all tournaments, the defender earned 8+16.
Sergio Busquets
The Spanish midfielder retired at the age of 37. Busquets, like Alba, played out his time in MLS, playing for Inter Miami. He is also one of the heroes of this club’s historic season. Sergio has 10 assists in 56 matches. Before leaving for America, the defensive midfielder played only for Barcelona. Won 32 trophies, including nine league titles and three Champions Leagues. With the Spanish national team, Busquets won the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012. Sergio played 143 matches for the national team and scored 2+9.
Another Belgian defender retired from football in 2025 – Vertonghen reached 38. His career, like Alderweireld’s, included Ajax and Tottenham. In addition, he played for Benfica. Jan won two golds in the Netherlands and one in Portugal, and with the Londoners reached the Champions League final. The defender played 157 matches for the Belgium national team and scored 10+6. He also took part in three world championships, taking bronze at the Russian 2018 World Cup. In the last season 2024/25, playing for Anderlecht, Vertonghen appeared on the field only eight times due to injury.
Edinson Cavani
The Uruguayan striker played until he was 38 years old. Cavani had a distinguished career in Europe, playing in Italy for Palermo and Napoli, in France for PSG, in England for Manchester United and in Spain for Valencia. With the Parisians, Edinson became the champion of France six times and reached the Champions League final. In the 2025 season, the forward played in Argentina for Boca Juniors, earning 5+2 in 24 matches. For the Uruguay national team, Cavani scored 58 goals and provided 17 assists in 136 matches. I went to four world championships.
The Brazilian defender retired at the age of 36, announcing his decision in February 2025. His last club was Fluminense. In the 2024 season, Marcelo played 36 matches for this team, scoring three goals and two assists. Then he paused and still did not continue. The left-back is best known for his time playing for Real Madrid. With Madrid, he won 25 trophies, including six league titles and five Champions League victories. Marcelo has 58 matches for the Brazilian national team (including 10 at two World Cups), in which he scored 6+11.
The list of famous Belgians continues with the striker, who hung up his boots at the age of 38. Mertens made a name for himself playing in Italy for Napoli. With this club he won two National Cups and one Super Cup. Dries then went to Turkey, where he won three golds with Galatasaray. In the 2024/25 season in the Istanbul team, the forward earned 6+21 in 52 matches. Mertens played for the Belgian national team at three world championships, including the bronze medal at the 2018 World Cup. In 109 matches he scored 21 goals and made 33 assists.
Miralem Pjanic
The Bosnian midfielder retired at 35. We will remember him from his performances in Russia, because Pjanic finished his career in the RPL. He spent the 2024/25 season in CSKA: he won the National Cup with the army team, and gave three assists in 25 matches. But Miralem became a star of European football much earlier – even when he played for Lyon, Roma, Juventus and Barcelona. The Bosnian’s collection of awards includes four gold medals in the Italian Serie A; he reached the Champions League final with Juventus. For the national team of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Pjanic has 115 matches and 46 goals (17+29).
The Croatian midfielder said goodbye to football at the age of 37. The majority of Rakitic’s career has been in Spain, where he played for Barcelona and Sevilla. With the Catalans he won 13 trophies (including four La Liga gold medals and the Champions League), and with the Seville team he won the Europa League twice. Ivan spent the 2024/25 season in his homeland – in 39 matches for Hajduk he scored 2+5. And in the summer he became the technical director of the club from Split. Rakitic played 106 matches for the Croatian national team, scoring 15 goals and 16 assists. At the 2018 World Cup in Russia, he reached the final with the national team.
The Spanish goalkeeper made his last appearance on the field in May 2025 at the age of 42. The end of Reina’s career with Como was not very pleasant. He was sent off in the Italian championship game with Inter. In total, in the 2024/25 season, the experienced goalkeeper played 13 matches and missed 15 goals. Pepe is the same goalkeeper against whom Andrei Arshavin scored four goals in Arsenal’s meeting with Liverpool back in 2009. Reina also played for other top European clubs, in particular for Barcelona and Bayern, in which he became the German champion. And with Liverpool, this goalkeeper reached the Champions League final. Pepe has 36 caps for the Spanish national team, he is the winner of the 2010 World Cup, Euro 2008 and Euro 2012.
Mats Hummels
The German defender decided to retire at the age of 36. Hummels is the 2014 World Champion with the German national team. He played 78 matches for the national team and scored 5+7. He also performed at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Almost the entire club career of Mats is connected with Bayern and Borussia Dortmund. With these teams, he won gold in the German Bundesliga five times. Twice participated in the Champions League final. Hummels spent the 2024/25 season in the Italian Roma. He scored one goal in 20 matches.
Samuel Yumtity
The French defender left the profession early – at the age of 31. The reason was the player’s injury. Umtiti is the winner of the 2018 World Cup. In total, he played 31 matches for the national team and scored four goals, but the Russian World Cup remained the only one in his career. At the club level, Samuel was remembered for his performances for Barcelona and Lyon. With the Catalans he won seven trophies, including two Primera gold medals. In the 2024/25 season, Umtiti was a Lille player, but never appeared on the field due to another injury and a long recovery from surgery. The defender was no longer able to return to his previous level.
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