Marcelo Announces His Retirement from Football at 36: The End of an Era in Marcelo Retirement
One of the best left backs, Marcelo announced his retirement from football, after almost 20 years of career, marking a significant moment in Marcelo retirement.
“My story as a player ends here, but I still have a lot to give to football. Thank you for everything,” said the now former player in a video posted on social media and Marcelo career ends here.
At 36 years old, Marcelo decided to end his career three months after terminating his contract with Fluminense, the club that revealed him in 2005 and to which he returned in 2023.
His departure from the Tricolor was announced in November, after a disagreement on the sidelines with coach Mano Menezes. At that point in the season, the player had already lost his place in the team.
Since then, it was unclear whether Marcelo would continue playing to try to add to his impressive collection of titles, 25 of them with Real Madrid, including five Champions Leagues (2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2022), and the only Copa Libertadores in Fluminense’s history (2023).
“One of our greatest legends”
The Spanish club signed him when he was just 18 years old. In Madrid, the full-back enjoyed the best moments of his career, thanks to his refined technique and attacking vocation, which made him one of the team’s captains and one of the most successful players in Real Madrid’s history.
Marcelo has also been included in the FIFA Team of the Year on six occasions.
“He is one of our greatest legends, and Real Madrid is and will always be his home,” said Real Madrid president in a statement released on Thursday in “thanks and affection” to Marcelo, following his Marcelo retirement.
In Spain, the full-back was teammates with stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Vinícius Júnior, who also sent messages after the announcement of his retirement.
“My brother, what an incredible career! We’ve had a lot of life together, years of achievements, victories, and unforgettable moments. More than a teammate, a companion for my life,” wrote CR7 on his Instagram account, reflecting on Marcelo retirement.
“Today the winger who played as a full-back is leaving football,” said Vini on the same social network. “Some are magicians with the ball, many others are winners. But few are both magicians and winners. And you did it.”
“Victorious return to Brazil”
Marcelo left Real Madrid in 2022 for Olympiacos in Gree, the only club he did not win a title with. Six months later, he returned to Fluminense to win the Campeonato Carioca (2023), the Libertadores and the Recopa Sudamericana (2024).
Tricolor even named the CT Vale das Laranjeiras stadium, where the youth teams train, after the full-back: Marcelo Vieira…
“He conquered the entire planet and returned home, where he conquered even more. Marcelo retirement marks the end of an era. Football thanks you, Marcelo. Fluminense, his eternal home, thanks you, idol,” wrote the Rio de Janeiro club on social media X.
In addition to two Olympic medals (silver at the London 2012 Games and bronze at Beijing 2008), Marcelo was champion of the Confederations Cup in 2013, but is also remembered for having been part of the squad that suffered the historic 7-1 defeat to Germany in the semi-finals of the 2014 World Cup.
His last game with “He conquered the entire planet and returned home, where he conquered even more. Football thanks you, Marcelo. Fluminense, his eternal home, thanks you, idol,” wrote the Rio de Janeiro club on social media X.
For the Brazilian National Team, he played 58 games and scored six goals, between the South American Qualifiers, Copa América and the 2014 and 2018 World Cups.
His last game with the ‘Amarelinha’ was in the 2018 World Cup, in the 2-1 defeat to Belgium in the quarter-finals
