Marcelo, 36, is no longer a soccer player. The very victorious left side, idol of Real Madrid and Fluminense, announced on Thursday (6) his retirement of the lawns, through a video posted on Instagram.
“My story as a player ends here, but I still have a lot to give football. Thanks for everything,” says the player, at the end of a whole Spanish performance, in which he lists his great moments at Real Madrid and briefly quotes his hits on Brazilian National Team and Fluminense.
Graduated in the tricolor club, the carioca moved to the Spanish team at 18 and became one of his historical figures. No one has more titles with the meringue association shirt – the most victorious of football – than the Brazilian, who raised 25 trophies.
There were six of the Spanish Championship, two from the King Cup, five from the Spanish Super Cup, five from Champions League, three from UEFA Super Cup and four of the Club World Cup. The athlete played with the white shirt 546 matches, a number that does not count friendly, and scored 38 goals.
“When I was 18, Real Madrid knocked on my door. And today I can say that I am another Madrid. Here, I graduated with my wife a family,” says Marcelo, in part of the video of his retirement.
The club responded with its own publication. “Real Madrid FC wants to express their thanks and their affection. Marcelo is part of the story of Real Madrid, one of the great legends of our club and world football,” he said.
The player was also victorious in Fluminense, although he worked less for the team in which he was born for the sport. Having built his remarkable trajectory in Spain and discreetly passed through Greece – he has ten times by Olympiacos – he returned.
Far from the old man, but with great technical quality, he was part of the tricolor formation that won the 2023 Libertadores Cup. He also triumphed in the Carioca Championship of that year and in the 2024 South American Recopa.
The farewell, however, was not graceful. Marcelo had a discussion with coach Mano Menezes on the edge of the lawn, in a match against Grêmio, in Maracanã, on November 1st last year. The relationship was no longer good, and the next day the termination of the contract was announced.
The carioca has been without a club since then and decided, finally, to hang the boots. He finishes his career with 58 games for the main Brazilian team, with six goals scored and one title, the 2013 Confederations Cup. He also won two Olympic medals, the Bronze of Beijing-2008 and the silver of London-2012
The biggest goal with the yellow shirt, however, was not achieved. Holder at the 2014 World Cup, was part of the biggest defeat in history of Brazil, the 7-1 suffered at home against Germany, in the semifinals, in Mineirão. He was also starting in 2018 in Russia, where the team stopped in the quarterfinals, eliminated by Belgium.
