The twilight has arrived for one of the great Mexican soccer players. Andrés Guardado has announced his retirement as a footballer in a fleeting broadcast on his social networks. The act, on the pitch of the León Stadium, does not do justice to a footballer who was in the European elite for 16 years. They nicknamed him The Little Prince, now he can leave as one of the kings of Mexican soccer.

The spark of Andrés Guardado (Guadalajara, 38 years old) will go out when the Mexican championship ends. El León, the last stop for the midfielder, is playing for the last opportunities to qualify for the final rounds of the Liga MX, however, the mathematics does not favor him. Guardado’s last game, barring a surprise, will be this Sunday against Monterrey. Guardado left Betis and in January 2024 he joined the emerald team, in an unexpected move in the world of transfers. The fan hoped to see him retire at the club that saw him emerge, Atlas, but there was never an agreement. Six months later, Guardado has said goodbye to football definitively.

“What’s up, my people! “I am on the field at the León stadium because here I wanted to make public my decision to leave football at the end of this season and stop being a professional player after 19 years,” Guardado said in a video of less than seven minutes. “I don’t have anything prepared, I simply want the words to come from the heart, from the head,” he commented.

“I leave happy that in a certain way this last month I was able to show a little what Andrés Guardado is on the court and I thank him for it. [Eduardo] Berizzo because he made me enjoy this last month and feel useful,” he commented about his last coach. The footballer made his professional debut in August 2005 with Atlas, a former factory of great players such as Rafael Márquez. At that time, he was a sprinter on the wing who surprised with his ability to kick at the goal with great effectiveness and spectacularity. That caught the attention of Deportivo, in La Coruña, where he played five seasons of ups and downs. He played for a few months at Valencia, in a more defensive role. The same thing happened to him at Bayer Leverkusen. He found his second wind at PSV Eindhoven, where he emerged as a mass idol who won two Leagues and two Super Cups. The Dutch fans sang the Cielito Lindo to encourage him.

In 2017 he accepted the challenge of Betis. At that time they presented him with gloves and a boxer’s mask. He joined the Andalusian team to try to extend his career and boy did he do it by playing seven seasons at the highest level and as one of the captains. He never stopped fighting. Leadership and good vibes in the locker room opened doors for him. The Mexican remembers that Copa del Rey that Betis won in 2022 after beating Valencia.

Last October 15, Guardado was honored by the Mexican Football Federation when he played his last 18 minutes, the player’s fetish number, with the Mexican team in a friendly against the United States, in Guadalajara. The veteran had assured that after the World Cup in Qatar he would step aside. He complied and vacated his position as one of the captains. He left with a prestigious record: five World Cups played.

“I want to thank my parents, Don Andrés and Teresita for doing so much to help me achieve my dream. Thank my brother Alex because he was my first idol and my role model. When I went to see you train I dreamed of being like you. To my sister Ceci for putting up with me,” said this Thursday a Guardado who already saw the twilight of his career approaching with the injuries attributed to him and with a natural drop in performance due to age. The all-round midfielder leaves an unrepeatable legacy in Mexico.