Nicolás Lodeiro decided to put an end to his career as a professional footballer. At 37 years old, the experienced midfielder announced his retirement after nearly two decades competing at the highest level and closed his career defending the colors of Nacional, the institution where he was trained and to which he returned in 2025 to live his final chapters as a player.
The decision was first communicated to his teammates and the coaching staff during a training session at the Ciudad Deportiva Los Céspedes. Hours later, the midfielder published an emotional video on his social media, where he reviewed the most important moments of his career and thanked all the people who accompanied him along the way.
"I gave it my all until I could," he expressed in his farewell message, dedicated to his family, coaches, teammates, clubs, and fans.
Trained in the youth divisions of Nacional, Lodeiro burst onto the First Division as one of the great promises of Uruguayan football and was one of the stars of the team that reached the semifinals of the Copa Libertadores 2009.
His performance caught the attention of European football and allowed him to make the leap to Ajax in the Netherlands, where he won two Eredivisie titles. He later developed an extensive international career with stints at Botafogo, Corinthians, Boca Juniors, Seattle Sounders, Orlando City, Houston Dynamo, and finally, his return to the tricolor team.
With the Uruguay national team, he played 60 international matches and scored five goals. Additionally, he was part of the squad that won the Copa América 2011 and represented La Celeste in the World Cups of South Africa 2010 and Brazil 2014.
One of the most notable periods of his career took place in the United States. As captain and leader of the Seattle Sounders, he became one of the most important footballers in the franchise's history.
With the American team, he won the MLS Cup in 2016 and 2019, in addition to winning the Concacaf Champions League in 2022, achievements that solidified his legacy in North American football.
His return to Nacional had a strong symbolic value. After winning the Uruguayan Championship 2025, Lodeiro understood that the time had come to definitively close his chapter as a professional footballer at the club that saw him grow.
