World Cup winner says goodbye to football

Blaise Matuidi and N’golo Kante formed part of a formidable midfield that won France the 2018 World Cup (ZUMA Press)

World Cup winner says goodbye to football

Ayoola Kelechi 20:24 - 23.12.2022

The 2018 World Cup winner posted an emotional farewell to the game on his Twitter account

French midfielder Blaise Matuidi has decided to retire from football with immediate effect at the age of 35.

The former Saint Etienne, PSG, and Juventus box-to-box midfielder took to Twitter to announce that he would be leaving the game he loves.

Blaise Matuidi has had a glittering career and retires as a legend of PSG and the French National team

Matuidi’s last club engagement was with Inter Miami in the MLS, but after failing to make the cut for their final squad for the 2022 season, he has decided to hang up his boots once and for all.

Matuidi’s club career and trophy haul

Born in Toulouse, France, Matuidi enjoyed a career that took him from Troyes to Saint-Etienne, then to Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus and finally Inter Miami.

Matuidi’s industry and work ethic made him a standout player throughout his career

In 699 club appearances, Matuidi was able to win 21 major club honours including four Ligue 1 titles with PSG and three Serie A titles with Juventus.

He made his professional debut in 2004 with Troyes and never looked back, establishing himself as a midfielder to reckon with at his peak.

He was named in the Ligue 1 team of the season on two occasions, and was also named French Footballer of the Year in 2015.

Blaise Matuidi’s international career

He also was also a mainstay in the French National team for most of his playing career and made 84 appearances which peaked when he won the 2018 World Cup with Les Bleus.

Blaise Matuidi holding the 2018 World Cup trophy
Blaise Matuidi was brilliant for France when they won the 2018 World Cup

The World Cup win earned he and his teammates the prestigious award of Knight of the Legion of Honour from the French government.

He was also part of the French team that lost the 2016 Euros in extra time on home soil.

He made his debut for France’s senior team in 2010 after representing the country at various age groups as far back as 2006.

He retired from the French team shortly after helping them win the World Cup, but continued turning out for Juventus and then Inter Miami until his body was unable to cope with the rigors of football.

Aurevoir Blaise

Throughout his career, Matuidi won plaudits for his industry and dynamism as well as his excellent resolve and contributions to team work.

He will go down in history as an exemplary midfielder and a serial winner, and will be missed by football fans the world over.

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