Lukas Podolski, a 2014 World Cup winner with the German national team, has officially announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 40, news agency DPA reported on Friday (March 7).
Podolski played for Vissel Kobe in Japan's J-League for two and a half seasons from 2017 to 2019. Over his career, the striker, born in 1985, also had stints at Cologne, Bayern Munich, Arsenal, and several other clubs.
With a total of 130 caps for Germany, Podolski scored 49 goals. He was a key member of the German team that won the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and earned a bronze medal at the 2010 World Cup.
Podolski also won the Best Young Player award at the 2006 World Cup, the Europa League with Arsenal in 2018, and multiple domestic titles.
The retirement announcement closes a career spanning more than two decades, marked by a strong legacy in both international and club football.
