Francesco Totti to announce shock retirement?

Sad news for Totti fans. Speculation had been rife that Roma legend is about to announce his retirement from sports, at age 49, with immediate effect.

UPDATE 20/08/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Being a footballer isn't fun anymore

“As we get older, there are phases of life that we enter into, and being a footballer just isn't fun anymore,” he might have said, says a source who remained anonymous. Other reports hinted that he may branch out into other creative fields he is better at (and more interested in), though they didn't provide any details.

#ThankYouFrancesco

For a little while on Wednesday evening, #ThankYouFrancesco was a trending hashtag on Twitter. As many fans reminisce and look back on all the unforgettable memories, some may wonder what about now made him make the decision.

“Francesco Totti was unlike any other footballer we’ve ever seen! #ThankYouFrancesco”
— @universalObserver, 19 Aug 2026

“I thought Francesco Totti retired about 5 years ago?!?”
— @millythom, 19 Aug 2026

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