Official! Benfica legend Pizzi announces retirement: not an easy decision | OneFootball

In the last few hours, Pizzi announced the end of his career. In a video shared on social media, the former Benfica midfielder revealed that, at 36 years of age, it was the ideal time to hang up his boots. In the message he left to the fans, the former Portugal international stated that his final match will, fittingly, be against the Club of Light, on the final matchday of the Liga Portugal Betclic.

"Hello everyone. I am here today to announce that I am retiring as a professional football player. It was not an easy decision. It was, perhaps, the hardest of my career. Unfortunately, for the past six years I have been playing with intense hip pain and, despite having undergone several treatments, this is a condition that prevents me from being the Pizzi everyone knew. Even so, I was always available to help every club I played for. I gave my all in every training session, in every match, at every moment", reads the message shared by Pizzi.

"Today I sit here with a heavy heart, but with an enormous sense of gratitude. I want to thank everyone who crossed paths with me throughout these 18 years of career: all my teammates, the coaches who guided me, and all the staff who always made me feel at home", added the 36-year-old midfielder.

"I look back and feel privileged to have lived moments and dreams that once seemed impossible; to have turned effort into achievements and sacrifices into unforgettable moments. To have felt the unique thrill of stepping onto the pitch and hearing an entire stadium roar. The emotion of hearing the anthem and representing a club on my chest. For every trophy lifted with pride. For every milestone reached that will remain in history", explained Pizzi.

"Thank you to everyone who was always by my side. Thank you to my wife and my children, for making everything lighter. Thank you to my whole family: my parents, my brother, my in-laws and brothers-in-law, for always being present in every moment and every decision. Thank you also to all my friends, who are part of this great journey and of all the success I achieved", thanked Benfica’s former number 21.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.