A teary-eyed Sergio Aguero, Barcelona‘s star signing last summer following the departure of Lionel Messi, called it quits on December 15, Wednesday, in a press conference citing his feeble heart condition that he had experienced during a La Liga match in October. The former Atletico Madrid and Manchester City forward leaves professional football with a reputation of being one of the most prolific goalscorers in Europe’s elite leagues.
Sergio Aguero: Barcelona and other career stats
| Teams | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| Atletico Madrid | 230 | 100 | 45 |
| Manchester City | 390 | 260 | 45 |
| Barcelona | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Argentina | 101 | 41 | 19 |
| Club Atletico Independiente | 38 | 18 | 0 |
Why Sergio Aguero announces retirement from football?
The incident took place on October 30 during Barcelona’s La Liga clash against Alaves when the Argentine international complained of chest pain and dizziness. The club medical team was immediately onto the pitch with the striker being stretchered off to the hospital for cardiological tests.
FC Barcelona had soon released a statement informing that the striker was ruled out for at least six months with a customized rehabilitation programme being designed for the striker. However, the 33-year-old striker couldn’t recover from the ailment.
In a press conference on Wednesday, Aguero said, “This conference is to announce I have decided to stop playing professional football. It is a very difficult moment. The decision I have taken for my health; the problem I had a month and a half ago.”
He further added, “I have been in good hands with the medical staff. I made the decision 10 days ago after doing everything possible to have some hope of playing on. I am very proud for my career. I always dreamed of a professional career since the first time I touched a ball at 5.”
Sergio Aguero had joined La Liga giants Barcelona with a lot of promise last summer from EPL side Manchester City. He had left the English League with five premier league titles to his name after a Copa America-winning campaign with the Argentina national team.
Aguero’s press conference at Camp Nou was attended by his former manager Pep Guardiola, under whom he has netted 124 times. Barca president Joan Laporta said, “Sergio, I think, as we just saw, we are left with deep joy and excitement with what you could have been here at Barcelona, but anything you need with your condition we are here at your disposal,” Laporta said.
“You will be remembered not just as a player, but as a friend. A new journey awaits, and I am sure it will be just as successful. You deserve it,” Laporta added.
Hurts a lot to see you leave: Lionel Messi wishes Aguero
Former FC Barcelona star and Sergio Aguero’s compatriot Lionel Messi also poured his heart out in wishing the striker well for the future. The duo has been playing together in the national team for the longest time and the last time they played together, Argentina won a major international title (Copa America 2021) after 28 years.
“Practically all of our career together, Kun… We have lived very beautiful moments and others that were not so much so, but all of them brought us together even more and made us closer as friends. And we are going to continue to live moments together off the pitch,” Messi wrote on his Instagram post.
“With so much happiness to lift the Copa America such a short time ago and with all of your accomplishments in England, the truth is that it hurts a lot to see how you must leave what you love the most due to what has happened,” the seven times Ballon D’or winner added.
Sergio Aguero goals: By tournaments
| Competitions | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| La Liga | 144 | 71 | 7 |
| Premier League | 294 | 184 | 50 |
| UEFA Champions League | 89 | 41 | 8 |
| FA Cup | 27 | 11 | 3 |
| UEFA Europa League | 17 | 9 | 5 |
| FIFA World Cup | 14 | 2 | 1 |
| Copa America | 29 | 9 | 2 |
The Etihad Stadium will always remember Kun Aguero for his last-minute strike against Queens Park Rangers, which saw Manchester City win their maiden Premier League title in 2011. Aguero’s last goal in his professional football career came against Real Madrid in the El Clasico, which Barcelona lost 1-2.
Sergio Aguero ends his football career with five Premier League titles, one Copa America title, six League Cups and one FA Cup to his name. Since joining Manchester City in 2011, Aguero has won 21 major titles. His record 184 Premier goals for the Cityzen is also the most number of goals scored by a player for a single club in England.
