As the final whistle echoed across stadiums, marking the end of an era, football bid goodbye to some of its most illustrious football figures in 2023.
These legends, who graced the pitches of Europe’s top five leagues, have left an indelible mark on the beautiful game.
In this article, we pay homage to the iconic players whose boots have hung up, jerseys retired, and careers concluded, leaving behind a legacy that will forever be etched in the annals of football history.
We reminisce about the extraordinary journeys of these football maestros and celebrate the greatness they brought to the pitch.
Emmanuel Adebayor
Aged 39, Adebayor announced his retirement from football in March. The former Arsenal and Real Madrid forward had spent his final years playing in his native country of Togo for Semassi.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is ranked one of the greatest players of the 21st century after Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Over his long and nomadic career, Ibra played in 827 games, scoring 496 goals and making 205 assists.
Further, he scored 62 goals in 122 matches for Sweden and won the Puskas Award for the best goal in 2013.
Ibra also won the league top goal scorer in five of the seasons he played, three in France, two in Italy.
Additionally, he got 10 league titles in the top five leagues, five in Italy, four with PSG, and one in Spain with Barcelona.
Gianluigi Buffon
Legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon announced his retirement on August 2, 2022.
A career that started in Parma ended in Parma after spending the last two years at his boyhood club in Serie B.
In between, he spent most of his time at Juventus, where he won countless medals, although the Uefa Champions League eluded him.
Buffon did, though, win the World Cup with Italy in 2006, the crowning glory of his career.
Cesc Fabregas
The former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder announced his retirement in July after a stupendous 20-year career.
The Spaniard won 12 major trophies, including the Fifa World Cup and two European Championships, although he too never won the Champions League.
Having also lined up for Barcelona and Monaco, he spent the last year playing in Serie B with Como.
Eden Hazard
Things did not work as planned for Hazard at Real Madrid as the Belgian only managed seven goals in 76 appearances for Los Blancos.
Injuries and fitness concerns plagued his four years in Spain, but the career he had before that speaks volumes about the player he was at his best.
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Hazard dazzled fans with his incredible dribbling ability at a very young age playing in France with almost the whole of Europe chasing his signature in 2012.
Chelsea managed to sign Hazard and over his seven years in England, Premier League defenses couldn’t cope with his ability to carry the ball and beat a man.
He won two league titles and two Europa League trophies with Chelsea while scoring 110 goals in the process.
Gareth Bale
Gareth Bale, the Welsh wizard, brought his illustrious career to an end in January 2023.
Besides, his time at Real Madrid saw him win five Champions League titles, cementing his place as one of Wales’ finest ever footballers.
While his international journey ended with a tinge of disappointment, his overall impact on the game will forever be cherished.
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David Silva
David Silva’s artistry on the pitch captivated fans for years.
The Spanish maestro made a name for himself at Manchester City, where he became an integral part of their success, winning four Premier League titles.
Later, he enchanted audiences at Real Sociedad, showcasing his versatility and footballing genius.
Sadly, a knee injury forced him into retirement as he prepared to represent La Real in the Champions League.
Mesut Ozil
The German midfielder was one of the greatest playmakers of his generation and it’s a shame to see him hanging up his boots.
Ozil is collectively considered an all-time great and yet it still feels as if he could have achieved more.
Surprisingly enough, Ozil only won one league title throughout his career, but that shouldn’t diminish the genius he was.
After short stints at Fenerbahce and Istanbul Basaksehir, Ozil took to Twitter to announce his retirement in March 2023, aged 34.
