Official! Adrien Silva hangs up his boots, leaves message for Sporting | OneFootball

It's official! At 36 years old, Adrien Silva has put an end to his football career. Through his social media, the former Sporting captain said goodbye to the pitch, assuring that the Alvalade club was very important throughout his journey.

"There comes a moment when we feel it's time to move on, with a peaceful heart and the pride of someone who gave everything to the game he loves. Today, I look back at the path I've taken and realize it's time to close a chapter that gave me everything: football. It was more than 450 games, thousands of training sessions, trips, victories, and defeats that shaped the man and the player I am. But above all, it was years of passion and total dedication to a dream that began a long time ago, when I was just a child with a ball at my feet. From France, where it all began, football has been part of my life from a very young age. The passion for the game was born with me and accompanied me every step of the way, guiding me to the dream of becoming a professional player", he said.

Adrien did not forget the moments he lived at Alvalade: "Sporting was my home, the place where I grew as a player and as a man. It was there that I learned what work, demand, and the honor of representing a symbol greater than ourselves mean. I had the privilege of being captain of the club where I was developed, something impossible to describe in words. More than 200 games, two Portuguese Cups, three Super Cups and, above all, an eternal bond to an institution that shaped my character and my way of seeing football. Many moments will remain etched in my memory, and every applause from the fans will be remembered with gratitude".

"Representing the National Team was the culmination of that childhood dream. I always believed that wearing the Portugal shirt was more than playing, it was carrying the pride and hope of an entire country. Becoming European champion in 2016, wearing the number 23 shirt, was the highest point of my career, a moment that makes me smile every time I remember it. Representing my country at a World Cup, hearing the anthem before every game, and feeling the strength of a united nation were experiences that taught me the value of sacrifice, unity, and what football can mean to an entire people", he concluded.

As a player for Sporting, Adrien Silva, the former number 23, scored 39 goals and provided 19 assists in 239 matches wearing the lion on his chest. His numbers contributed to winning two Portuguese Cups and three Cândido de Oliveira Super Cups.

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