- Varane confirmed retirement after catalogue of injury problems
- The Frenchman a standout player for years at Real Madrid before joining Man Utd
- World Cup winner considered to be one of the best defenders of his generation
France footballing legend Raphael Varane shockingly announced his retirement from football aged just 31.
The central defender joined newly-promoted Serie A side Como after leaving Manchester United in June 2024, but suffered a serious knee injury inside 25 minutes of his first appearance for the club. The road to recovery was deemed too long for Varane, who has opted to hang up his boots and take up a coaching role at Como instead of going through yet another gruelling recovery.
With his playing career now in the rear-view mirror, here's 90min's five best moments of Varane's storied career.
5. FA Cup triumph
In what proved to be the final game of his Manchester United career - and final full 90 minutes of his entire career - Raphael Varane put in the best performance of his time in England.
Varane rolled back the years to put in a stoic performance alongside Lisandro Martinez at Wembley, pocketing Erling Haaland as United surprisingly beat rivals Manchester City to win the FA Cup.
And although his United career didn't go to plan - thanks to injuries - Varane at least left the club on the highest of highs.
4. El Clasico star
From the very end of his career, to the very start.
Way back in 2013 a fresh-faced Varane went toe-to-toe with Lionel Messi, David Villa, Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta, in a two-legged Copa del Rey semi-final tie and came up trumps.
Varane was utterly exceptional in both games, becoming the second youngest foreign player to ever score in El Clasico to earn a draw at the Santiago Bernabeu. He then added another in the second leg at the Camp Nou to earn Madrid a spot in the final.
Top class.
3. Champions League wins
We're going to say something really glaringly obvious right now:
It's very hard to win the Champions League.
Gianluigi Buffon couldn't do it, nor could Diego Maradona, nor could R9 Ronaldo.
Varane has won the Champions League on four occasions. That is pretty damn remarkable if you ask us.
He was a key reason why Madrid managed to win so many European Cups during his tenure at the club too, starting three of the four finals his team won.
2. A banner 2018
In 2018, Varane was the undisputed best defender in the world.
In fact, he was one of the best footballers in the world overall.
The trophy cabinet proves it:
- FIFA World Cup winner
- UEFA Champions League winner
- FIFA Club World Cup winner
- FIFPro World 11
- UEFA Team of the Year
- UEFA Champions League squad of the season
- FIFA World Cup Fantasy Team
- FIFA World Cup Dream Team
- IFFHS Men's World Team
Say no more.
1. World Cup winner
What stands above all the accolades Varane won in 2018 is the World Cup triumph with France.
In many ways, Varane's performances en route to Les Bleus' second ever World Cup triumph will go down as the defining moment of his entire footballing career.
The centre-back showed the best form of his career during the tournament in Russia, helping his side keep four clean sheets - including one in a mammoth defensive effort against Belgium in the semi-finals.
Varane even popped up with a rare, and crucial, goal in the quarter-final win over Uruguay.
He was the MVP of the tournament for France.
