Spain World Cup Winner Pedro Retires From Football at 39

Spain’s 2010 World Cup winner Pedro Rodríguez has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 39, ending a career that spanned more than two decades.

The former Barcelona and Chelsea winger announced his decision on social media on Wednesday, saying he was ready to begin a new chapter after achieving the dreams he had set for himself in football.

“I feel that the time has come, the time to take a step forward and begin a new stage in my life,” Pedro said in his farewell message. He thanked football for the happiness it had brought him and the people who supported him throughout his career.

Born in Tenerife, Pedro joined Barcelona’s youth academy at 17 before progressing through the club’s system and making his first-team debut in 2008. He became an important member of Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona side, winning three Champions League titles and five La Liga crowns.

Pedro was part of Barcelona’s historic 2009 campaign, when the club won six trophies in a calendar year. He also scored in the club’s 3-1 Champions League final victory over Manchester United at Wembley in 2011 and ended his Barcelona career with 99 goals in 321 appearances.

He moved to Chelsea in 2015 and helped the London club win the Premier League in 2017. He later added the FA Cup and Europa League before leaving England and continuing his career in Italy with Roma and Lazio.

At international level, Pedro won the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2012 European Championship with Spain. He made 65 appearances for the national team and scored 17 goals during his international career.

Barcelona paid tribute to the winger following his retirement, highlighting his journey from Tenerife to La Masia and his role during one of the club’s most successful periods. The club also recalled that Pedro became the first player to score in all six competitions Barcelona entered during the 2009/10 season.

Pedro is expected to formally mark his retirement at a farewell event at Barcelona’s Auditori 1899 on Friday, October 9, at 11:30 a.m. CEST.