Former Argentina international and ex-Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Erik Lamela has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 33, citing long-standing hip problems that have plagued much of his career.

In an emotional statement posted on Instagram, Lamela shared the personal and physical struggles behind his decision:

"I've decided to retire from professional football. It’s a decision I’ve thought about for a long time — and now, the time has come."

"For those who don’t know, I’ve been dealing with hip problems for 11 years. It all started back then, and in 2017 I underwent surgery on both hips — with my left hip in worse condition. That year was incredibly difficult; I was terrified. I thought it might be the end of my career, and I was only 25."

"Thanks to those operations, I was given four more years to play. But doctors warned me the condition would worsen again — and that’s what I’m facing now. Through sacrifice, endless hours of physiotherapy, strength training, injections, and treatments, I managed to keep playing more than twice as long."

"Only those close to me truly understand what it took. Nothing came easy. Playing and training in pain became my everyday reality. For the past five years, I took painkillers before every match just to be able to compete."

Career in Review

Lamela began his professional career at River Plate in Argentina before making a move to AS Roma in Serie A. His performances in Italy earned him a big-money transfer to the Premier League, where he joined Tottenham Hotspur in 2013. Over eight seasons in North London, Lamela became a cult favourite — known for his technical flair, relentless work rate, and memorable goals, including a famous rabona against Arsenal in the North London Derby.

He later played for Sevilla FC in La Liga, where he won the UEFA Europa League in 2023, and concluded his career at AEK Athens.