The average age of retirement in football is 35. A number of players have the longevity to play above that mark, such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. But, there are a number of players that hang up their boots way too early. Here are the top five players that retired from football too early.
Eric Cantona
The Manchester United legend is among the greatest to ever play for the club, and was the leader of Alex Ferguson’s revolution. The player hung up his boots at 30, after a rather turbulent club and international career.
Marco van Basten
The three-time Ballon d’Or winner scored 282 goals in just 379 club games for Ajax and AC Milan. He was one of the best strikers in the world during the 1980s and 90s. After struggling with an ankle injury, he retired from football at the age of 31.
Michel Platini
While Platini after football is known for being a corrupt UEFA President, he was one of the best on the planet. He featured for Juventus and St Etienne, and won three Ballon d’Or awards. But, he had to retire at the age of 32.
Patrick Kluivert
Kluivert made a name for himself as an 18-year-old, scoring in the 1995 Champions League against Juventus to win the trophy. He featured for AC Milan and Barcelona most prominently, and retired from football aged 32 in 2008.
George Best
George Best is one of the most infamous names in football. On the pitch, he resembled sheer brilliance with the ball at his feet. But off of it, he struggled to cope with an alcohol addiction that proved to be his downfall at the ripe age of 28.
