Brazilian left-back Marcelo is putting an end to his storied career with La Liga powerhouse Real Madrid. Marcelo confirmed the news after Real won the UEFA Champions League trophy for the 2021-22 season following a 1-0 win over Liverpool.
The UCL trophy was the fifth for Marcelo since he joined Los Blancos. While he didn’t play in the finals, watching the game from the bench, he was the first one to lift the trophy as the club’s captain.
“It’s an incredible emotion because it’s my last game at Real Madrid,” he told journalists in the mixed zone at the Stade de France. “Leaving with a Champions League is a huge joy. It isn’t a sad day.”
Marcelo joined Real as a teenager in 2007 from Brazil side Fluminense. In the following 16 years, the Brazilian went on to play 546 games in all competitions and help the club win 25 trophies. The tally, which includes six La Liga titles and five UCL trophies, makes him the most decorated player in Madrid’s history. He was also named the club’s captain ahead of the 2021-22 seasons, becoming the first foreign player to have that honor since 1904.
The 34-year-old Marcelo didn’t share his thoughts on the future. However, it is highly unlikely that he will retire from soccer altogether. The more probable option is that he continues his career at home in Brazil or comes to MLS.
