Fernandinho’s official farewell to professional football took place during the charity match "Bola pra frente, Rio Bonito do Iguaçu," held at Arena da Baixada in Curitiba last Wednesday (19th).
"I'm already tired. I got tired just running for a little over 30 minutes today. There's nothing in football that motivates me anymore, I've achieved everything I wanted in the sport. I made the most of every opportunity. Now, it's time to enjoy life with my family," said the former player.
Fernandinho’s last official match brings back tough memories for Athletico-PR fans. It was the 1-0 defeat to Atlético-MG at Arena MRV, in the final round of the 2024 Brasileirão. That result sealed Furacão’s relegation.
Fernandinho closed out the 2024 season with 46 appearances, eight goals, and seven assists.
Beyond his legendary status at Furacão, Fernandinho became an icon at Manchester City. He spent nine years at the club, playing 383 matches, scoring 26 goals, and winning 12 trophies. Many consider him the greatest Brazilian player in Premier League history.
In addition to Athletico-PR and City, Fernandinho also played for Shakhtar Donetsk, where he won six Ukrainian league titles and a UEFA Cup, now known as the Europa League.
With the Brazilian national team, Fernandinho played 53 matches and scored twice. He was part of the squads for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and the 2018 World Cup in Russia.