Marcelo Vieira Hangs Up His Boots
Brazilian football icon Marcelo Vieira has officially announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 36. The legendary left-back concludes his remarkable career with an impressive tally of 30 titles, 721 matches played, 58 goals scored, and 117 assists provided. Marcelo shared this emotional decision through a heartfelt video posted on his social media accounts.
In his farewell message, Marcelo fondly recalled his time at Real Madrid, where he spent the majority of his career: “At 18, Real Madrid opened its doors to me. I can now proudly say I’m a Madrileño. I built a family here with my wife. Sixteen seasons, 25 titles, five Champions League trophies, serving as one of the captains, and countless magical nights at the Bernabéu. Madrid is a unique club. Madridismo is an indescribable feeling. Representing my country from the youth levels was also a great honor.”
Marcelo also touched upon his return to Brazilian football in the twilight of his career: “Going back to Brazil allowed me to give back to my club what it gave me. I left a legacy for young players with the Marcelo Vieira stadium. While my journey as a player ends here, I still have much to contribute to football. Thank you for everything.”
Real Madrid expressed their gratitude in an official statement: “Following Marcelo’s announcement of his retirement from professional football, Real Madrid C.F. wishes to express its appreciation and affection. Marcelo is an integral part of Real Madrid’s history and stands as one of the great legends of our club and world football.”
Marcelo Vieira concludes his illustrious career with an impressive collection of 30 titles, including 5 Champions League trophies, 4 Club World Cups, 3 UEFA Super Cups, 6 La Liga titles, 2 Copa del Rey victories, 5 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Libertadores, 1 Confederations Cup, 1 Recopa Sudamericana, an Olympic silver medal from London 2012, and a bronze medal from Beijing 2008. The Brazilian defender’s final professional stint was with Fluminense, where he recently terminated his contract. Unable to find a new club or an appealing project, Marcelo has decided to bring his playing career to a close.