Nani, 38, has announced that his professional career is over. In 2005–06, he made his senior debut in a career that started at Sporting. Similar to 2006–07, the forward finished the season with 36 games played, six goals, and five assists.

That was considered to be sufficient justification to pay €25.5 million to join Manchester United and play alongside Cristiano Ronaldo.

Nani played for the Red Devils for six more seasons after winning the Champions League in 2008 before going on loan to Sporting.

He scored 12 goals and provided seven assists in 37 games after rejoining Alvalade. Fenerbahçe, Valencia, Lazio (he returned to Sporting in 2018–19), Orlando City (USA), Venezia, Melbourne City (Australia), and Adan Demirspor were the next stops.

Nani finally joined Estrela da Amadora in July. He only managed one goal in ten games, against Boavista (2-2).

"As you know, everything has an end, and at this moment I took the initiative to make a very important decision, perhaps the most important of my professional life, to stop playing as a professional. I will hang up my boots, but with a feeling of duty fulfilled as an athlete, as a teammate, and as a professional. It was a beautiful career, one of many achievements but the time has come to make an important decision.”

"I can’t help but thank everyone for helping me achieve my goals, to overcome all obstacles. Football gave me a lot. I want to give back what football gave me and I have a great opportunity to do it. A big hug to everyone and see you soon," he said on social media.

International career

Between September 2006 and July 2017, Nani made 112 appearances for the national team. The striker scored a goal in the 4-2 loss against Denmark on his debut. 24 more goals were scored, the final one occurring in the Confederations Cup match against New Zealand (4-0) in June 2017.

In any event, his three goals at Euro 2016—against Iceland, Hungary, and Wales—as well as the armband he wore during the final match against France, will never be forgotten.

His CV includes the European Championship, Champions League, Club World Cup, Portuguese Cup (3), League Cup, Premier League (4), English Super Cup (4) and English League Cup (2).

Author

A passionate Irish journalist with a love for cycling, politics and of course Portugal especially their sausage rolls.

Rory Mc Ginn