37-year-old midfielder Rakitić posted on social media, announcing his official retirement.
The 37-year-old Rakitić started his career at Basel in Switzerland, then moved to Schalke 04 and Sevilla, gradually emerging as a top midfielder in La Liga. Since joining Barcelona in 2014, he quickly became an indispensable part of the Blaugrana. He was also a key midfielder for the Croatian national team, winning the 2018 World Cup runner-up alongside Luka Modrić, Ivan Perišić, Mario Mandžukić and other members of Croatia's "Golden Generation".
In his career, Rakitić claimed 1 Champions League title, 2 Europa League titles, 4 La Liga titles, 4 Copa del Rey titles, 1 DFB-Pokal, 1 Swiss Cup, and 1 Club World Cup.
Meanwhile, Rakitić also released an emotional farewell letter, whose translation is as follows:
Dear Football,
You have been a part of my life from the very beginning.
From the fields of my hometown, Merlingen in Switzerland, to the world's largest stadiums, you have always been with me.
You gave me my first chance at Basel. I was just a kid back then, but you made me believe that anything was possible.
That was only the start.
At Schalke 04, I grew up with you. It was my first time being far from home, and I learned to face new challenges, new cultures, and new lessons. You made me stronger, and that growth opened new doors.
And so I arrived at Sevilla, where I had such a different experience... You gave me so much. You gave me a home, and I savored the glory of lifting the Europa League trophy as captain. Most importantly, it was there that I met the love of my life. Thanks to you, I found my partner, the mother of my daughters, and built my family.
Just when I thought I had seen it all, you surprised me once more.
Coming to Barcelona, you made my life feel like a dream. I played alongside the best players, lifted trophies, and spent magical nights at Camp Nou.
You etched my name in history, yet you didn’t stop there.
You brought me back to Sevilla, to close the circle of my career, to say thank you, to feel the warmth of home again, and to win the Europa League once more.
You gave me even more. When I least expected it, you took me to a different place. A new rhythm, a new way of experiencing football – Al-Shabab Riyadh. It was a truly special chapter that I’m so proud of, where I made friends for life.
As if you knew how much it meant to me, you gave me another unforgettable chapter – returning to where my roots lie, playing in Croatia for the first time in my life, representing Hajduk.
It’s an experience I’ll hold dear forever, but above all, you gave me the greatest honor:
Wearing the national team jersey, representing Croatia.
For a small country like Croatia, reaching a World Cup final is not just a sporting achievement, but an eternal moment, a gift to the entire nation.
Football, you have given me more than I ever dreamed of, more than I could have imagined.
You gave me friends, emotions, joy, tears. You gave me my whole life – a life always filled with glory.
Now it’s time to say goodbye, but I know that even as I step away from you, you will never leave me.
Thank you, Football. Thank you for everything.
