On the sidelines of the victory of the French team against Azerbaijan (3-0) as part of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, the FFF paid tribute to Samuel Umtiti at the Parc des Princes. The defender, aged 31, announced his retirement from sports on September 15, putting an end to a career marked in particular by his decisive goal in the semi-final of the 2018 World Cup against Belgium.
Asked by TF1Umtiti explained that his decision was carefully considered: “My decision has been made for a year and a half”. Although he claims to have turned the page, he has no plans to move away from football. “Coach, I think about it a lot, passing on… I want to have responsibilities, but I need to train. Being a player won't make you a good coach.”he announced. The former international (31 caps, 4 goals) hopes to begin his career change soon: “I hope to be on the benches within a few years”.
