10 players you have to see live before they retire – and how to see them

Seeing a special player in the flesh is what many football fans hark back to when reminiscing about their favourite moments watching the sport.

In every generation, there are talents that can excite and dazzle, whether that be a silky dribbler, a ball-playing maestro, or a clinical goalscorer, and they are one of the main reasons why supporters pay their hard-earned cash to fill venues.

Here, this article will look at 10 players who are coming to the end of their careers, but are still producing top-class performances that justify the cost of a match ticket, detailing why you should and how you can go to watch them live.

Ten players you need to watch live

Lionel Messi

It may not seem long ago that Lionel Messi was dazzling the Camp Nou as a teenager, but the man that many people consider to the be the greatest footballer of all time is now 38-years-old and he only likely only has one or two more seasons left as a professional footballer. 

How to watch Messi live: Tickets for a single Inter Miami match are often available a few weeks in advance of each fixture, ranging from prices of $50 to $300 and above, depending on the opponent and the competition.

Argentina have already qualified for the 2026 World Cup too, meaning those fortunate enough to secure tickets for any of La Albiceleste’s matches at the finals will be there to see Messi play at his last tournament.

Cristiano Ronaldo

A long-standing rival of Messi throughout their careers, Ronaldo is also still playing week in, week out, with Saudi club Al Nassr, and he also captains his national side, with whom he has scored more international goals than any other player in history.

Ronaldo's ego means that he is likely to play for longer than Messi, and he has recently signed a new contract with Al Nassr until 2027, meaning there are at least two more years to see the former Real Madrid man in action.

How to watch Ronaldo live: Ronaldo is still a regular in the Portugal national side, meaning the easiest way to see him in action is to buy tickets for a World Cup qualifier or a UEFA Nations League fixture, often staged in Lisbon or Porto, with tickets always available.

However, for the more adventurous football travellers, Al Nassr tickets are frequently available, as Saudi Pro League games rarely sell out, with prices starting at 60 Saudi Riyal, the equivalent of £12.

Luka Modric

A player who will forever be known as the man who broke up the Messi-Ronaldo supremacy in terms of the Ballon d’Or, Modric will go down as one of the game’s greatest ever midfielders.

This summer, the 39-year-old ended his 13-year stay at Real Madrid, but instead of retiring or moving to Saudi Arabia or the United States, he has signed a one-year deal with AC Milan. 

How to watch Modric live: AC Milan matches at the San Siro aren't as in-demand as they once were, so it shouldn't be too difficult to watch Modric live in the coming season. For Croatia, their matches in Split or Rijeka often sell out. At the same time, those in Zagreb rarely do, so it is possible to see Modric for the Vatreni, especially in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

Antoine Griezmann

A modern-day French legend, Griezmann is admired greatly for his achievements with both Les Bleus and Atletico Madrid, and he is still among the world’s finest players as he approaches his mid-30s.

How to watch Griezmann live: Griezmann has now retired from the France national side, but remains a regular starter for Atletico, and tickets at the Metropolitano are easily purchasable, starting from around €30.

However, there are rumours he could leave at the end of this season, so time may be running out to see him in the red and white stripes, before a potential move to MLS.

Kevin De Bruyne

Classed as one of the Premier League's finest midfielders of all time, De Bruyne has been a shining light for Manchester City for a decade, collecting every major honour available, as well as numerous league titles, with his playmaking ability ranking among the best ever.

De Bruyne has signed for Napoli this summer, and considering they are the reigning Italian champions, there is every chance that he adds more silverware to his collection in 2025/26.

How to watch De Bruyne live: Napoli are known for having passionate supporters, but their home stadium, the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, is quite large and doesn't always sell out. 

De Bruyne is still a regular Belgian international too, with the Red Devils frequently playing matches in Brussels, which is an extremely accessible city for most European travellers, where tickets are always available on a one-off basis.

Robert Lewandowski

Lewandowski is possibly the most famous athlete to hail from Poland, and his extraordinary goalscoring feats are the reason why. After decorated spells with Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich, Lewandowski moved to Barcelona, where he has continued to shine despite his age. 

How to watch Lewandowski live: Going to watch Barcelona is not cheap, with the lowest match ticket often being priced around €100 even at the Olympic Stadium, while renovation work is completed on the Camp Nou, but they are always available to travelling football fans visiting the city.

In addition to this, Poland is very accessible, especially the capital, Warsaw, where the national team plays all of their home fixtures at the impressive PGE Narodowy, with tickets easily attainable.

Mohamed Salah

Recently entering conversations for being one of Liverpool’s greatest-ever players, Salah seems to set records on a near-weekly basis on Merseyside, and he has collected every major honour with the Reds, often finishing as their top scorer.

How to watch Salah live: Seeing Salah in the flesh is not as straightforward as many others on this list, because demand for Liverpool tickets is extremely high even for club members, with resale tickets often being listed way in excess of triple-digit figures.

After signing a new contract recently, Salah will remain at Anfield for the next couple of years, but it may be worth splashing out on a Premier League or Champions League ticket, with the Egyptian often being rested in FA Cup and EFL Cup matches.

Angel Di Maria

While being a World Cup and Champions League winner, few players can claim they have been as underrated over the past decade as Angel Di Maria, with his success at Real Madrid and with Argentina in particular being very impressive. The Argentinian has recently moved to Rosario Central, where he is expected to finish career. 

How to watch Di Maria live: Di Maria may have hung up his boots internationally, but that is only set to extend his club career even further. Rosario Central tickets are easy to come by, but getting there is a logistical nightmare. 

Thomas Muller

Bayern Munich fans were heartbroken when Thomas Muller left the club at the end of the 2024/25 season, but one of the most lovable characters in the game in modern years has proven he is still capable of playing at the top level.

Muller could continue his career in Europe, but all signs appear to suggest that he is heading to Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States.

How to watch Muller live: There is no indication as of yet on where Muller will specifically end up next season, and he has retired from the German national team, so at this point, there is no way of securing tickets to watch the former Bayern man in action. 

Lamine Yamal

At the age of 17, Lamine Yamal is already one of the best footballers in the world, and he is only going to get better in the coming years. While that's a terrifying prospect for every football club in the world not named Barcelona, it's an exciting one for football fans across the planet.

Although his inclusion in this list is extremely premature, given that he likely has 20 years until he retires, his mercurial talent is so unique and spectacular that you should add him to your football bucket list immediately.

How to watch Yamal live: Like with Robert Lewandowski, watching Yamal in a Barcelona shirt won't come cheap. The renovation work at the Camp Nou will see the capacity of the famous old stadium increase to over 100,000, so perhaps this will reduce ticket prices.