Former Spanish professional footballer Pedro Rodríguez has announced his retirement from the sport at the age of 39. His decision brings an end to a remarkable 20-year career that saw him win numerous major trophies in club and international football. Pedro confirmed his retirement on October 7, 2026, after his contract with Lazio expired in June. Throughout his career, he accumulated 25 major trophies.
Pedro Rodríguez began his football journey by joining Barcelona's youth system in 2004 at the age of 17. He gradually progressed through the club's ranks and made his first-team debut in 2008 under the management of Pep Guardiola. In his breakthrough 2009 season, Pedro made history by becoming the first player to score in six different competitions in a single calendar year.
During his six-season tenure with Barcelona's first team, Pedro won five La Liga titles, three Champions League trophies, three Copa del Reys, four Spanish Super Cups, three UEFA Super Cups, and two FIFA Club World Cups. He made 358 appearances and scored 109 goals for the club. One of his most memorable moments came in the 2011 Champions League final at Wembley, when he scored Barcelona's opening goal in a 3-1 victory over Manchester United.
In August 2015, Pedro joined Chelsea, where he made an immediate impact by scoring on his Premier League debut against West Bromwich Albion. During his five-year stay at Stamford Bridge, he made over 206 appearances and scored 43 goals. His biggest success came in the 2016/17 season when he helped Antonio Conte's Chelsea win the Premier League title.
Pedro's success with Spain was equally significant. He was part of Spain's squad that won the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa and started the final against the Netherlands, which Spain won 1-0 after Andrés Iniesta scored in extra time. Two years later, Pedro was part of the Spain team that won Euro 2012, finishing his international career with 65 appearances and 17 goals.
After leaving Chelsea in 2020, Pedro moved to Italy, spending one season with Roma before joining Lazio. His move to Lazio saw him reunite with Maurizio Sarri, his former Chelsea manager. Pedro continued to play an important role well into his 30s and spent the final years of his career at Lazio before becoming a free agent when his contract ended in June 2026.
Throughout his career, Pedro made 794 club appearances and scored 197 goals, alongside his 65 Spain appearances and 17 international goals. His career is defined by the teams and moments he was part of, including being a key player in Guardiola's historic Barcelona side, scoring in a Champions League final, and winning the World Cup with Spain. Pedro will mark his retirement with a farewell event on October 9 at the Auditori 1899.
Key points
- Pedro Rodríguez retires from professional football at 39 after a 20-year career.
- He accumulated 25 major trophies, including three Champions League titles and a World Cup.
- Pedro made 794 club appearances and scored 197 goals throughout his career.
