Sometimes footballers will have bad retirements. What are some of the worst final seasons/matches/moments before a footballer retired?

I'd say Zinedine Zandane's has got to be the worst. It coukd have been the perfect retirment, leading France to World Cup glory in his final match. Instead he got himself sent off in the World Cup final (amd his last ever football match) It gets worse when France then go on to lose the match and the World Cup.

That was a legendary retirement tbh.

Headbutt Materazzi in the chest in a WC final and never play a second of football again

Probably the best retirement rather then worst.

I remember Marchisio's retirement as a long agony, fragilized by injuries and got the bench warmer role, ended up with Zenit playing on cold nights. Probably not anywhere close to the worst retirement but it's the first example that comes to mind.

Fun fact a few years ago i heard on radio about a NFL player, Buffalo Bills i think, retired in the middle of a game his team was too bad he said fuck it i'm done and never came back

Warrior wrote:I remember Marchisio's retirement as a long agony, fragilized by injuries and got the bench warmer role, ended with Zenit playing on cold nights. Probably not anywhere close to the worst retirement but it's the first that comes to mind.

Fun fact a few years ago i heard on radio about a NFL player, Buffalo Bills i think, retired in the middle of a game his team was too bad he said fuck it i'm done and never came back

lmao I think it mightve been vontae davis? They were getting whooped and he started putting on his street clothes during halftime lmaooo

that's probably where Antonio Brown got his inspo from

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLZhoBEEcDs

Zidane had one of the best retirements everything considered, unretired from international football; had a legendary tournament and notorious ending in the final.

Worst retirements are those that play much past their glory days and look as a shadow of their former selves, forgetting how great they were.

maybe maradona's (RIP) was the worst, i think it had to do with doping (and no, not usa 94), was an abrupt end too, can't remember his last game. i remember a section of milan fans booed/whistled maldini on his retirement.
ronaldo (r9) also had a bad retirement in brazil, if i'm not mistaken corinthians fans were booing him, can't even remember his last game either. zidane's has to be there if you're talking about worst final match. That image of him just walking past the trophy...a dream retirement turned into a nightmare real quick. romario moving from Qatar to USA to Australia back to Brazil all in a bid to hit the 1000 goal mark like Pele was kinda pathetic for the legend he is. 5 major legends there.