With a massive fan base of billions of hardcore followers, football is often hailed as one of the most popular sports on a global level. The glorious history of the game has witnessed an unending streak of spine-chilling rivalries, high-octane action on the field and prominent football stalwarts who have continued to attract the attention of billions of football aficionados from all over the world. Some of the most popular and iconic football players, including Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and many others, have undoubtedly defied the odds of cut-throat on-field rivalries and gruesome injuries and have managed to stay at the top of the game with their unmatched exploits on the field.
However, the history of football has also witnessed a few football players who have left their fans in utter disappointment after announcing an early retirement from the game for numerous shocking reasons. Have you ever wondered about the most shocking retirements in the world of football that came unannounced and way too early? Well, let’s find out.
In this article we will take a look at the top four football players who have announced their retirement way too early in their careers, leaving their fans shocked and majorly disappointed.
Top 4 Football Players Who Retired Too Early
George Best – 28 Years
Often hailed as one of the greatest football players in the world and a walking nightmare for opponent teams, the Northern Irish professional footballer George Best, who played as a winger, spending a majority of his club career at Manchester United is at the first spot in our list of the top four football players who announced an early retirement and left their fans absolutely shocked. Throughout his glorious football career with Manchester United, George Best made a phenomenal total of 470 appearances and scored a total of 170 goals during his stay with the club from 1963 to 1974.
Additionally, George Best was also acknowledged as the European Footballer of the Year in 1968 after he made headlines for scoring a crucial goal for Manchester United in the 1968 European Cup, leading the club to a sensational victory against Benfica. Moreover, George Best established himself as the top goalscorer of Manchester United club for five consecutive seasons, from 1965-66 to 1969–70. George Best was undoubtedly at the apex of his professional football career when he announced his official retirement at the age of twenty-eight amorous due to alcohol addiction.
Zinedine Zidane – 34 Years
At the second spot in our list of the top four football players who have announced their retirement way too early in their careers, leaving their fans shocked and majorly disappointed, we have the French professional football manager and former footballer Zinedine Zidane, who played as an attacking midfielder. Often popularly hailed as the greatest player of all time, Zinedine Zidane has clinched numerous individual accolades as a player throughout his glorious professional football career, including being named FIFA World Player of the Year in 1998, 2000 and 2003, and winning the 1998 Ballon d’Or.
Zinedine Zidane rose to an incredible streak of prominence after he scored two match-winning goals at the 1998 FIFA World Cup against Brazil. Also, Zinedine Zidane was named “Player of the Tournament” at the 2000 UEFA Euro. Moreover, although his team failed to clinch the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Zidane received the prestigious Golden Ball award at the end of the season for his dominant exploits on the field. Shortly after the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Zinedine Zidane announced his official retirement from football owing to an excruciating physical and mental toll.
Michel Platini – 32 Years
Next, at the third spot in our list of the top four football players who announced an early retirement and left their fans absolutely shocked, we have the legendary French former footballer Michel Platini, who is often regarded as one of the greatest and most successful football players of his era. Throughout his star-studded professional football career, Michel Platini has clinched the prestigious and coveted Ballon d’Or three times in a row, in 1983, 1984 and 1985, speaking volumes about his unwavering dominance in the game.
Michel Platini established himself as the top goal-scorer at the 1984 UEFA European Championship with a record total of 9 goals in five minutes and was also named as the “Player of the Tournament”. While Platini’s massive fan base was anticipating more action from the French football sensation, he ended up announcing an early retirement at the age of thirty-two due to mental and physical fatigue. Additionally, shortly after his retirement, Platini moved into football management and administration and managed France’s national team (1988–1992).
Eric Cantona – 30 Years
Finally, at the fourth spot in our list of the top four football players who have announced their retirement way too early in their careers, leaving their fans shocked and majorly disappointed, we have the French former professional football player Eric Cantona, who has now transitioned into the glamorous world of acting and cinema. Eric Cantona is still hailed as one of the most influential and dominant players of Manchester United who transformed the club in all respects and successfully led them to four Premier League titles (1992–93, 1993–94, 1995–96, 1996–97), two FA Cups (1993–94, 1995–96) and three FA Charity Shields (1993, 1994, 1996).
Owing to his successful exploits on the field throughout his career with Manchester United, Eric Cantona was inducted into the prestigious Premier League Hall of Fame in 2021. Despite witnessing a star-studded professional football career with Manchester United, Eric Cantona ended up leaving the game at the young age of 30 years due to extreme media scrutiny and loss of motivation to play for the club.
