Former Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti, a pivotal member of France’s 2018 World Cup winning squad, has announced his retirement from football at the age of 31.
A graduate of Olympique Lyonnais’ academy, Umtiti joined Barcelona in 2016 and went on to make 133 appearances for the Catalan club, winning two LaLiga titles during his spell at the Camp Nou.
Despite his early success, Umtiti’s career was heavily disrupted by persistent knee cartilage issues. His final stint came with Ligue 1 side Lille.
“After an intense career filled with highs and lows, the time has come to say goodbye, I gave everything with passion and I have no regrets,” Umtiti wrote on social media late Monday.
“I would like to thank all the clubs, presidents, coaches, and teammates I’ve had the privilege to work with,” he added.
Umtiti’s greatest moment came at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, where he scored the decisive goal in France’s semi-final win over Belgium before starting in the final, helping Les Bleus defeat Croatia 4–2 to claim their second world title.
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