Former Argentina And Liverpool Star Maxi Rodriguez Retires From Football At 40
Former Liverpool, Atletico Madrid and Argentina international Maxi Rodriguez has officially called time on his professional career at the age of 40.
Rodriguez played his last game for boyhood club Newell’s Old Boys against Banfield on Tuesday and was substituted to a standing ovation.
Rodriguez was in his third spell with Newell’s Old Boys, where he made his professional debut in 1999 before leaving for Europe and starring for Espanyol, Atletico Madrid and Liverpool.
He returned for his second spell at Newell’s in 2012 before a short stint at Uruguay’s Penarol in 2017 and came back for his third stint in 2019.
Rodriguez was part of the Argentina side that won the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2001 and went on to win 56 caps for his country’s senior side, scoring 15 goals, including one of the goals of the tournament against Mexico at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
Tributes have been pouring in for Rodriguez from some of his former teammates after he announced his retirement.
Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson posted a message, saying: 'Hi Maxi it's Jordan I've heard you have come to the decision of retiring from football.
'So I just wanted to send you a quick message to say congrats on an amazing career. It was a pleasure to work and play with you at Liverpool. Take care mate and remember, you'll never walk alone.'
Argentina captain Lionel Messi added: 'It was an honour to share the pitch with you'.
