Ivan Rakitić Retires After Nearly 900 Career Matches

Ivan Rakitić has announced his retirement from professional football at age 37, ending a career spanning nearly 900 matches for club and country. He began at FC Basel, moved to Schalke 04, captained Sevilla to a Europa League title, and achieved major honours with Barcelona, including four La Liga titles, four Copas del Rey, and a 2015 Champions League win. Rakitić earned 106 caps for Croatia, helping lead them to the 2018 World Cup final. His later career included playing for Al Shabab in Saudi Arabia and Hajduk Split in Croatia. He has expressed deep gratitude for the sport and its impact on his life. Rakitić is expected to transition to an off-field role at Hajduk Split and is widely regarded as one of Croatia's greatest footballers.