Argentinian striker Sergio Agüero, recruited by FC Barcelona in the summer of 2021, announced Wednesday, December 15, his retirement at the age of 33 due to heart problems. In tears and his voice trembling, the player, nicknamed “Kun”, explained at a press conference his decision to“Stop professional football”, the doctors having confirmed to him that it was “The best decision”.
October 30, at the 40e minute of the match against Deportivo Alavés counting for the 12e La Liga day, the winner of the Copa America 2021 lay down on the lawn, touching his chest and neck, suffering from discomfort.
After the intervention of the rescuers, the Argentinian had managed to get up and walk out of the field. Agüero was then evacuated to a hospital in Barcelona. The next day, his club announced that the player ” [avait] suffered from chest discomfort “.
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A prolific career
Agüero will therefore be deprived of a fourth World Cup with Argentina, in Qatar next fall. He leaves behind a career punctuated by successes and records. The player arrived in Europe, at Atlético de Madrid, in 2006, after a flamboyant debut three years earlier at Independiente, in the province of Buenos Aires. He will stay five seasons with the Rojiblancos, with whom he won the Europa League in 2010, then flew to England.
Agüero immediately entered the legend of Manchester City, to whom he will remain faithful for ten years (2011-2021). With the Citizens, he scored what is perhaps the Premier League’s most famous goal, the title won in 2012, on the final day against Queens Park Rangers. At the 94e minute, while the score of 2-2 condemns the Citizens to a frustrating second place behind the great rival Manchester United, Agüero inherits a ball slipped by Mario Balotelli, feigns then finds the net to offer the Skyblues victory and their first title of champion of England since 1968. “Sergio is quite simply the most ruthless striker in Premier League history”, welcomed in a statement the boss of City, Khaldoon Al-Mubarak.
The most prolific foreign scorer in the English league with 184 goals and the author of 260 goals in sky blue, he won fifteen titles, including five English championships. During its passage, City’s trophy cabinet has been stocked, but there is still a big void, the Champions League. In May, the Citizens lost in the final against Chelsea (0-1).
“Forever in the hearts of every Argentinian”
The football world has scrambled to pay tribute to Sergio Agüero on social networks. “An extraordinary striker (…), a brilliant teammate, a friend and a special personality ”, said defender Vincent Kompany, a companion of the early years, while David Silva, now at Real Sociedad, spoke of his “Pride in sharing so many moments together, on and off the pitch”, echoing the messages of Kevin De Bruyne and Leroy Sané.
Transferred to Barça in the summer of 2021 in the hope of evolving with Messi, Agüero saw his plan fail when the “Chip” rallied Paris-Saint-Germain. The two Argentines will remember winning the Copa America after failing in the 2014 World Cup final against Germany. “We had some wonderful moments and others that weren’t really, but they brought us all closer together and made more friends. (…). I love you so much, my friend, I will miss you very much ”, testified Leo Messi on his Instagram account.
The Argentine federation also showed the gratitude of a whole people. ” Thank you “Kun” ! Thank you for all these years of football, all these charms, these goals, and the joy in the selection. You will forever be in the heart of every Argentinian ”, promised the Argentine Football Association.
Other players have heart problems
The news of this retirement comes six months after the cardiac arrest of the Danish Christian Eriksen, who had upset the world of football in the middle of the Euro, in June. Since then, the Inter Milan player has had a defibrillator implanted, a device to prevent the risk of sudden death. However, in Italy, wearing a pacemaker is a contraindication to playing professional football.
For his part, the French winger of Bayern Munich Kingsley Coman (25), who also suffers from arrhythmia in a mild form, can continue to evolve in the professional world, just like the German of Hertha Berlin Sami Khedira. Other football stars also learned late that they were victims of a heart problem, like Lilian Thuram (cardiac enlargement diagnosed in 2008, at the age of 36).
