Mario Balotelli to announce shock retirement?

  • By Smith Alexander
  • Rome
  • Last updated on

Balotelli created a stir on Saturday when rumors have surfaced that his career was over.

Sad news for Balotelli fans. Speculation had been rife that the Italian footballer is about to announce his retirement from sports, at age 39, with immediate effect.

UPDATE 11/01/2026 : 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.

#ThankYouMario

For a little while on Saturday evening, #ThankYouMario 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.

“Mario Balotelli was unlike any other footballer we’ve ever seen! #ThankYouMario”
— @universalObserver, 10 Jan 2026
“I thought Mario Balotelli retired about 5 years ago?!?”
— @millythom, 10 Jan 2026

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