FIFA cult hero planning to come out of retirement aged 40 after not playing for over 10 years
A former cult hero of the FIFA franchise could come out of retirement within days - while another has already rejoined his boyhood club.
Former Colombia striker Jackson Martinez, who turned 40 earlier this month, rejoined his first club Independiente Medellin in September after six years of retirement.
The ex-Porto and Atletico Madrid frontman suffered from chronic ankle problems and retired at the end of 2020. But he is not the only high-profile name who is planning a surprise return to football.
Benoit Tremoulinas announces comeback plans
Former Sevilla left-back Benoit Tremoulinas played his last competitive match back in 2016, which was a Europa League semi-final clash against Shakhtar Donetsk.
He missed the entirety of the 2016/17 season with a knee injury before leaving Sevilla as a free agent, but never regained full fitness and retired at the age of just 33 in 2019.
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Now aged 40, Tremoulinas has announced his intention to return to his boyhood club Bordeaux, where he spent 13 years as a youth player before turning professional in 2007.
The left-back made over 200 appearances for the French club during a six-year spell, and was a key part of the squad which won the Ligue 1 title in 2008/09.
But the club have encountered serious financial issues over recent years and were placed into administration in 2021. Though new owners were found, they were relegated to Ligue 2 in 2022, and have since been administratively relegated on three separate occasions to drop as low as the sixth tier of French football.
Tremoulinas, who now works as a pundit, told L'Equipe that he is considering making a shock comeback to play for Bordeaux and plans to join first-team training 'in two weeks'.
The Frenchman has added that he will make a return to competitive football if his knee is able to withstand the pressures of training and matches.
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Jackson Martinez returns to professional football
As for Martinez, he is returning to the top division of Colombia with Independiente Medellin, where he will re-unite with a number of his former international team-mates such as Juan Quintero and Frank Fabra.
In a statement announcing Martinez's return in September, Medellin stated he had signed an initial contract until December with the option to extend. He scored 52 goals in 151 appearances for the club between 2004 and 2009.
"Jackson returns to the home where his professional career began, to meet again with the fans who celebrated his goals and who remember the 2009 title, a star that forever marked his history with the Powerful One," the statement read.
"His return represents much more than the arrival of a player. It's a return of a legend who left an indelible mark on our club and who, after building a distinguished international career, is once again wearing red to continue writing his story with DIM.
"Welcome back home, Jackson. The red team is reunited with one of its greatest idols."
Ryan Smart