Atletico Madrid icon Diego Godin retires from football at 37

Uruguay and Atletico Madrid icon Diego Godin has officially retired from professional football. The centre-back has called it a day on his career after two decades and 627 professional games. He is widely regarded as one of the best of his generation, and announced his decision after Velez Sarsfield’s 1-0 loss to Huracan in the final matchday of the Argentine league. 

Uruguayan side Nacional wanted to sign the player, but he decided to step away from football, prioritising his personal life. Godin recently became a father after the birth of his daughter, and cited his family as one of the reasons behind his decision. 

Diego Godin retires from football at 37 

“I wanted to make the decision this way, being healthy, it may seem surprising, but I had been considering it for a while,” the 37-year-old Godin told Argentine TV.

“Now there are other priorities. My family is in Uruguay and I recently became a dad, I want to rest and enjoy other things, and I wanted to try to leave with a good image on the pitch.”

Diego Godin is most fondly remembered as the captain of Atletico Madrid during his nine years with the club. He won the La Liga title, Copa del Rey, Supercopa and two Europa League with the Rojiblancos. He also won the Copa America title in 2011 with Uruguay, after finishing fourth at the 2010 World Cup. 

He had spells with Inter Milan, Cagliari and Atletico Mineiro before joining Velez in 2022.