Uruguayan defender Diego Godín retired from football on Sunday, following his team's 1-0 loss to Huracán in the last match of the Argentine league season, bringing an end to a remarkable 20-year career.
Godín (37 years old) told Argentine television: "I wanted to make my decision this way, and I'm in perfect health. It may seem surprising, but I've been thinking about it for a while." He added, "Now there are other priorities, my family in Uruguay, and I recently became a father. I want to relax and enjoy other things. I wanted to leave while leaving a good image on the field."
A close source to the player informed Reuters that Nacional in Uruguay had signed Godín, but the center-back decided to retire after welcoming his daughter born last month.
The former captain of Atlético Madrid played 627 professional matches, scoring 38 goals and winning ten titles, including two UEFA Europa League titles and three UEFA Super Cups with Atlético.
Godín began his career in 2003 with Cerro in Uruguay, moved to Nacional in 2006, before joining Villarreal in Spain the following season. He joined Atlético in 2010, where he made a name for himself and captained the team for nine seasons.
He arrived at Vélez in mid-2022, after a successful European journey that included stints with Inter Milan and Cagliari in Italy, following a six-month period with Atlético Mineiro in Brazil. Godín earned 161 international caps for Uruguay, participating in four World Cups as part of the golden generation that won the 2011 Copa América and finished fourth in the 2010 World Cup.
