Real Madrid legend Marcelo retires aged 36 - 'One of the greatest left-backs in football history'
Updated 06/02/2025 at 13:28 GMT
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Marcelo has retired from football. The left-back joined Real Madrid in 2007 at the age of 18 and went on to make 546 appearances in 16 trophy-filled seasons with the Spanish giants. He won five UEFA Champions League titles and six La Liga titles during his time in the Spanish capital. Real Madrid president Florentino Perez said Marcelo is "one of the greatest left-backs in world football history".
How Marcelo became the 'perfect left-back' in superstar Real Madrid team
Video credit: TNT Sports
Real Madrid legend Marcelo has announced his retirement from football at the age of 36.
The Brazilian made 546 appearances over 16 seasons for Real Madrid, winning five UEFA Champions League titles and lifting La Liga six times. He also played 58 times for Brazil.
"At 18, Real Madrid knocked on my door and I arrived here. Now, I can proudly say that I am a true Madrileno," Marcelo said on social media.
"Sixteen seasons, 25 titles, five Champions Leagues, one of the captains and so many magical nights at the Bernabeu. What a journey!
"My journey as a player ends here, but I still have so much to give to football. Thank you for everything."
Marcelo joined Real Madrid in 2007 at the age of 18 from Brazilian club Fluminense.
He was a key figure in one of the most successful periods in Real Madrid's history and in 2021 became the first non-Spanish player to be named club captain in 117 years.
He left in 2022 to join Olympiacos, where he spent just five months before departing for boyhood club Fluminense, where he had two more seasons.
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez said Marcelo is "one of the greatest left-backs in Real Madrid and world football history."
He added: "We had the privilege of watching him for a long time. He is one of our greatest legends and Real Madrid is and always will be his home."
What 'perfect left-back' Marcelo won
Marcelo is undoubtedly one of the great left-backs in recent memory, up there with Paolo Maldini, Roberto Carlos and Ashley Cole.
He was a pivotal player during a golden era for Real Madrid and when he left in 2022, he was the most decorated player in club history with 25 trophies (Nacho and Luka Modric have since overtaken him).
Only two other non-Spanish players have made more appearances for Real Madrid than Marcelo - Karim Benzema (648) and Modric (569).
His 25 trophies won at the club include five UEFA Champions League titles and six La Liga titles.
During his time in Madrid he also won four FIFA Club World Cups, three UEFA Super Cups, two Copa del Rey trophies and five Spanish Super Cups.
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Goals, assists, skills: Watch Marcelo's best Champions League moments
Video credit: TNT Sports
With Brazil, he won the Confederations Cup in 2013 and two Olympic medals - silver at London 2012 and bronze at Beijing 2008.
He made just 10 appearances for Olympiacos before returning to Fluminense, where he won the Copa Libertadores and Recopa Sudamericana.
"Technically he was incredible," said former Manchester United and Bayern Munich midfielder Owen Hargreaves on 'Champions League Immortals'.
"His touch was perfect, he was always up and down that side. I just loved watching him play. The ball looked like it was stuck to his feet, it wouldn’t go away from him. He was the perfect left-back."
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