Paolo Maldini to announce shock retirement?

Sad news for Maldini fans. Speculation had been rife that the winner of the Champions League 2007 will announce his retirement from sports, at age 57, with immediate effect.

UPDATE 21/05/2026 : 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-business man 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.

#ThankYouPaolo

For a little while on Wednesday evening, #ThankYouPaolo 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.

“You’ve accomplished everything I ever dreamed of #ThankYouPaolo.”
— @DesireePlum, 20 May 2026

“Maldini wasn't retired?”
— @borisB0, 20 May 2026

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