Retirement arrives for professional footballers with varying degrees of permanence, often prompting a sudden return to the pitch after months or years away from the sport, Diario AS reported.
Jackson Martinez returned to professional football at age 40 with Independiente Medellín, registering two victories, one goal, and one assist across his first two matches. The former Porto and Atlético de Madrid striker originally announced his retirement in 2020 due to persistent physical ailments, subsequently pursuing a career as a Christian rap artist before answering a new athletic call six years later.
Nani completed an unexpected move to FC Aktobe in Kazakhstan in January 2026, marking a return to competitive action a year and a half after stepping away from the game. The former Manchester United and Valencia winger contributed three goals and five asistencias following his arrival in Asia.
Wojciech Szczesny reversed his retirement decision within a week of hanging up his gloves in August 2024 to spend time with his family. An unexpected phone call from Barcelona led the 36-year-old Polish goalkeeper to sign as a replacement for the injured Ter Stegen, placing him under the management of Flick for what appears to be the final season of his career.
Pele bid farewell to Santos and professional football on October 2, 1974, but discovered through his accountant that he faced financial ruin following his storied career. At 33 years old, the Brazilian icon signed with the New York Cosmos in the United States, where he became the highest-paid athlete of his era and helped pioneer the growth of North American soccer during a three-year stint.
Diego Armando Maradona similarly staged a brief comeback with Boca Juniors in 1997, exactly one year after stepping away from the sport amid lingering off-field complications, culminating in a final appearance against River Plate on his 37th birthday.
Johan Cruyff initially walked away from Barcelona in 1978, but an offer from Los Angeles Aztecs coach Rinus Michels brought him to the North American Soccer League, where he was elected best player of the league before playing for the Washington Diplomats, Levante, Ajax, and Feyenoord until 1984.
Juan Sebastian Veron underwent multiple retirements and returns with Estudiantes de La Plata, stepping away in 2012, returning for a season, retiring again in May 2014, and finally re-emerging at age 41 to play in the 2017 Copa Libertadores after serving as the club’s president in 2014.
Jens Lehmann came out of retirement in 2010 after a spell with Stuttgart to answer a call from Arsene Wenger at Arsenal, playing for the London club at age 41 through the end of that season. Landon Donovan retired in 2014 at age 32, after winning six titles, returned to the LA Galaxy two years later, and subsequently joined Mexican side Club León in 2018.
