World Cup winner Mats Hummels to retire at end of season

German defender Mats Hummels has announced he will retire from professional football at the end of the season.

The 36-year-old, currently playing for AS Roma, shared the news in an emotional Instagram video.

He said: “After more than 18 years of everything football has given me, I’m ending my career this summer.”

Hummels rose through the youth ranks at Bayern Munich, making his first-team debut at 18.

THE END. Was für eine Reise! @OfficialASRoma @BVB @FCBayern @DFB_Team

Danke, Grazie, Thank you. pic.twitter.com/9a2tnHUyZB
— Mats Hummels (@matshummels) April 4, 2025

He later moved to Borussia Dortmund, becoming a key figure under Jürgen Klopp and helping the club win back-to-back Bundesliga titles. He returned to Bayern in 2016, where he added three more league titles to his name.

A standout moment in Hummels’ career came at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, where he played a crucial role in Germany’s triumph, including every minute of the final against Argentina at the Maracanã Stadium.

Despite his domestic success, a Champions League title remained elusive. He featured in two finals with Dortmund — in 2013 and 2024, both ending in defeat at Wembley.

Hummels rejoined Dortmund in 2019 and signed for Roma in 2024, where he will end his career after one season in Italy.

Over his career, he made 797 appearances, scored 65 goals, provided 39 assists, and won 15 major trophies. He also earned 78 caps for Germany.

Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann hailed Hummels as “a benchmark at the international level and a role model for a generation of defenders.”