Former Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti, a central figure in France’s 2018 World Cup triumph, has announced his retirement from professional 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. His career, however, was repeatedly disrupted by chronic knee cartilage problems.
Umtiti last featured for Ligue 1 side Lille before deciding to end his playing career.
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“After an intense career with ups and downs, the time has come to say goodbye … I gave it my ALL with passion and I have NO regrets,” Umtiti wrote on social media late on Monday. “I would like to thank all the clubs, presidents, coaches, and players I have had the privilege of working with.”
The defender scored the decisive goal in France’s 2018 World Cup semi-final victory over Belgium and was part of the starting line-up in the final, where Les Bleus defeated Croatia 4-2 to claim their second world title.
