RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — Fernandinho, the celebrated defensive midfielder renowned for his stints with Manchester City and Shakhtar Donetsk, has officially announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 40. The Brazilian star made the declaration on Wednesday evening following his participation in a charity match in Curitiba.
Fernandinho, whose illustrious career spanned 23 years, expressed that he had fulfilled all his aspirations in the sport. ‘There’s nothing left to motivate me in football; I’ve already achieved everything I wanted to,’ he stated. ‘Now it’s time to enjoy my family.’
His journey began and concluded with Athletico Paranaense in Curitiba, where he returned in 2022 after a remarkable tenure abroad. Fernandinho spent eight successful seasons with Shakhtar Donetsk in Ukraine before joining Manchester City in 2013, where he played for nine seasons and secured five Premier League titles.
Internationally, Fernandinho was a key member of Brazil’s under-20 World Cup-winning team in 2003 and earned 53 senior caps, including a triumphant Copa America campaign in 2019. His retirement marks the end of an era for one of football’s most respected midfielders.