Former Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti has announced that he has retired from professional football at just the age of 31, putting an end to a career that promised so much and delivered little; it never really kicked off. Softfootball understands that the French defender has been battling with a persistent knee problem for years, and in the end, his body simply would not let him continue.
Umtiti, who first broke through at Lyon, made a big move to Barcelona in 2016. His first two seasons in Spain were outstanding he looked like one of the best centre-backs in Europe. He was quick, strong in the air, and comfortable on the ball, perfectly fitting the Barça style. Alongside Gerard Piqué, he helped the Catalan giants win La Liga in 2018 and two Copa del Rey trophies.
Many fans still remember him as the man who kept Lionel Messi company during training, always laughing and joking, but serious when it mattered on the pitch.
For Lyon, this is another emotional situation for the club following their recent victory against the League to remain in Ligue 1 following relegation fears. While Barcelona will wish the defender had a better career even though theve already moved past him over the years, and the team even kept a clean sheet and were defensively solid in the team’s 6-nil thrashing of Valencia.
The French national team gave a tribute to the 2018 World cup winner via the team’s official X handle, thanking the defender for his outstanding contribution during the team’s successful 2018 World Cup campaign.
They wrote:
Our 2018 World Champion, Samuel Umtiti, has chosen to hang up his boots at the age of 31. Bravo for your great career Sam’ and thank you for everything you gave to the French National Team
Then came the injuries. The 2018 World Cup was his crowning glory with France, but playing through pain in Russia made things worse. From that point, his knee troubles defined his career. Umtiti missed large chunks of Barcelona’s seasons, struggled to hold down a place, and often faced criticism from fans frustrated by his absences. By 2022, he had fallen completely out of favour and was loaned to Lecce in Italy, where he showed glimpses of his old self but never fully got back.
The French Ligue 1 official X handle also saluted the World Cup winner, having played in the league during his formative years at Lyon and his time with Lille.
They Posted:
In 2024, he went through two more surgeries, but the comeback never arrived. He last played in January that year, and when Lille OSC released him at the end of last season, the phone didn’t ring with serious offers.
Reports in France suggested he thought about one more run, even visiting Lyon’s training ground, but in the end, he called it quits. His 13-year professional career ends with a World Cup medal, La Liga titles, and the memory of what could have been if his body had held up.
