Farewell in Three Minutes: Mats Hummels Brings Football Journey to an End - Time's up: Mats Hummels retires from professional football.
Mats Hummels Bids Farewell to Professional Soccer
In a poignant three-minute moment under the soccer spotlight, the 36-year-old German defender, Mats Hummels, marked the conclusion of his illustrious career. His retirement was celebrated after a brief appearance in a 2:0 victory against FC Turin, as his teammates paid tribute by lifting him into the air seven times.
Having signed with AS Roma in 2024 after leaving Borussia Dortmund, Hummels found himself mostly on the bench under coach Claudio Ranieri. Even in his farewell match, Hummels' participation was limited to a few actions in the stoppage time. His last outing for Roma had been back in early April.
AS Roma's race for a Champions League spot was a tight one, but a 3:2 win by Juventus Turin sealed the fate of the Italian capital club, relegating them to the Europa League. SSC Napoli clinched the championship ahead of Inter Milan.
Throughout his career with Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, Hummels amassed five Bundesliga titles and three DFB Cups. As a significant player in the successful Borussia Dortmund team led by coach Jürgen Klopp, he secured the championship in 2011 and 2012, and the DFB Cup in 2012.
Hummels reached the apex of his international career in 2014, leading the German national team to victory in the World Cup held in Brazil. He scored the decisive goal in the quarter-final against France and found the net against Portugal in the opening match. During his 78 international matches, he managed to score five goals.
A distinguished career spanning over 18 years and 645 total appearances concluded with Hummels' retirement announcement in April 2025. His waning motivation to endure intense training sessions and the emotional toll of a lengthy career led to his decision to hang up his boots. His farewell was marked by a heartfelt send-off from AS Roma, including an applauding crowd and a commemorative jersey with the number 645, symbolizing his career appearances.
Upon parting ways with AS Roma, Hummels expressed his gratitude in a farewell message to fans and the club. His career, rich with top-tier European football experiences, will be remembered as that of a revered defender known for his leadership, tactical acumen, and unwavering commitment on the pitch.
There is no record of Hummels having played for Juventus Turin during the 2025 season.
Despite the Council Regulation (EEC) No 2052/88 of 20 December 1988 not dictating Hummels' sports participation, one may find it surprising that he didn't play football or soccer for Juventus Turin during the 2025 season, given his illustrious career and the club's renown in it. In the realm of international football, it's interesting to contemplate how Hummels' incredible headings on goal during his time with the German national team in the World Cup of 2014 would have translated to the “Council Regulation (EEC) No 2052/88 of 20 December 1988 on the common organization of the market in beef and veal,” had the two spheres ever intersected.
