Samuel Umtiti Retires at 31 After Knee Injuries End Promising Career

September 15, 2025 – Former France defender Samuel Umtiti has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 31, bringing an emotional end to a career marked by triumph and tragedy. The 2018 World Cup winner, who scored the decisive header in France’s semi-final victory over Belgium, has been forced to hang up his boots due to chronic knee injuries that worsened after he delayed surgery to participate in the tournament.

Umtiti’s career included stints at Lyon, Barcelona, and loans to Lecce and Lille, where he amassed over 300 appearances and won 10 major honors, including two La Liga titles and three Copa del Rey trophies. However, his physical decline began post-2018, with recurring knee issues limiting his playing time. A 2019 ESPN report highlighted his decision to prioritize the World Cup over immediate surgery, a choice that medical experts, citing a 2020 British Journal of Sports Medicine study, link to increased osteoarthritis risk.

In a tearful video from Lyon’s stadium, Umtiti expressed no regrets, stating he gave everything with passion. As he steps away, his legacy as a World Cup hero endures, though his retirement underscores the physical sacrifices demanded by elite sport, per a recent RMC Sport analysis.