Fernandinho officially announced his retirement and ended a career marked by achievements at a high level, both in Brazilian football and in the European elite. An idol of Athletico, a reference at Manchester City and a constant presence in the Brazilian national team, the midfielder says goodbye to the pitch at the age of 40.
The confirmation occurred during his participation in the charity game “Bola pra Frente, Rio Bonito do Iguaçu”, held at the Ligga Arena, in Curitiba. He made it clear that there is no longer room for a return to the pitch, after not playing since Athletico’s relegation last season.
“I’m already tired. I’m already tired running for 30 minutes today. In football there’s nothing that motivates me more, I’ve already achieved well in football. Everything I could enjoy, I took advantage of. Now, it’s time to enjoy it with the family.”
Revealed by Athletico, Fernandinho gained international recognition at Shakhtar Donetsk before experiencing his peak at Manchester City, where he was a key player in the Pep Guardiola era. There were years of leadership, titles and recognition as one of the pillars of the club’s English and European dominance.
For the Brazilian national team, he played in the 2014 and 2018 World Cups and was champion of the Copa América in 2019, maintaining a relevant role even in the midst of moments of pressure and intense demands on the international stage.
Back at Athletico in recent years, he assumed the status of technical and emotional leader, contributing on and off the field in a period of transition for the club. He managed to take the team to the 2022 Libertadores final, losing in the decision to Flamengo. But his period ended with relegation to Series B
His last match was in December 2024, in the 1-0 defeat to Atlético-MG. He was already showing signs that he would leave the field, a fact that was confirmed this Wednesday.
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