It s hard to say goodbye! A generation of midfield masters announce their retirement! The 20-year career ends here

Another star said goodbye to us - former Barcelona and Croatian midfielder Rakitic officially announced his retirement, and he, who is 37 years old, ended his 20-year football career.

Rakitic played a total of 993 games in his career, scoring 140 goals and 157 assists, and winning 17 important championships.

Rakitic played for Basel, Schalke 04, Sevilla, Barcelona and Riyadh young people, and finally ended his green journey in Haiduke.

He spent most of his career in Spain, playing for Sevilla twice and winning the UEFA Cup twice with the team. During his six years at Barcelona, ​​he has won a total of 13 championships, including four La Liga titles and one Champions League title. At the national team level, he played 106 times for Croatia, contributed 15 goals and 16 assists, and was one of the important contributors to the 2018 World Cup team reaching the finals.

Rakitic posted a affectionate farewell letter to football on social media, revealing gratitude and reluctance between the lines. Below is the Chinese version of this letter. Students can read it ↓

Dear Football:

You have been by my side since I can remember. From the streets of Switzerland to the top stadiums around the world, every step of my growth is inseparable from you.

You arranged for me to start my dream-chasing journey in Basel. At that time, I was young and impulsive, but you made me believe that as long as I work hard, everything is possible. And this is just the beginning.

At Schalke 04, I really took the first step to travel far away from home. I began to learn to adapt to new environments, face challenges, and also learn to grow in changes. You let me know that whenever one door closes, the other door will open for you. That's it, I came to Seville.

There, I'm not just playing football. I found my belonging, picked up the trophy for the first time, and more importantly, I met the most important person in my life - my lover. You have given me a warm home and a happy family, and I have also become the father of two daughters. After all, it's all because of you.

Later I joined Barcelona, ​​and you made me truly in a dream that I never dared to hope for. You gave me the opportunity to play for the greatest team and have the honor to play against the strongest opponents. I played side by side with the best players in the world at Barcelona, ​​won all the honors I could win, and became a part of the club's history.

You brought me back to Seville, back to the place that made me feel at ease, became the captain again, and achieved the perfection of life.

Just when I thought I had walked through the wind and rain and returned to peace, you took me to a new country and embarked on the journey of youth in Riyadh. That experience made me re-recognize myself and gain new touches and growth from it. Thank you.

Finally, I returned to my hometown and put on my dream Hayduk battle robe. I will never forget the tears at that moment. In terms of the national team, I never thought of fighting for my motherland with such a role, representing Croatia in the European Cup and World Cup, and competing with the world's top players.

Football, what you gave me is far beyond my original imagination. You let me meet my confidant, experience joy, anger, sorrow, and joy, and walk through countless peaks and troughs. You have enriched my life and allowed me to always maintain a innocent heart.

Now, it's time to say goodbye. Although I am leaving you, I know that you will never leave me.

Thank you, football, thank you for everything you have given me.

In Xiao Ou's view, Rakitic at his peak was the kind of star who was far more powerful than fame, and a master figure who could compete with the midfielder of the Real Madrid ceremony. Although his data is not impressive, if the midfielder does not have him, his control will drop by a level. He is a classic silent team player.

In addition, Rakitic is also the famous "Messi is the best player in the world", and his most classic remarks are "You ask me if Messi is the best player in the world, just like asking me if I want to use the ball when playing football." If you like Messi, how can you not love Rakitic?

Finally, I wish Rakitic a happy life after retirement!