An important page in French football will turn this weekend. At 40, André-Pierre Gignac is preparing to play the last match of his career in the colors of the Monterrey Tigers, in the final of the Concacaf Champions League against Toluca. A final appearance which will close a chapter marked by more than a decade spent in Mexico.
In recent days, certain rumors were still sending him towards a possible departure to Orlando, where Antoine Griezmann is due to play this summer. But the French striker finally chose to end his career, eleven years after his surprise arrival from Olympique de Marseille (2010-2015), as reported RMC.
A legend in Mexico
Before his Mexican adventure, Gignac had already established himself as one of the major strikers in Ligue 1. Trained in Martigues and revealed in Toulouse, he exploded during the 2008-2009 season with 24 goals and a place as top scorer in the championship ahead of players like Karim Benzema or Guillaume Hoarau, thus opening the doors to the French team and the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
In Mexico, its impact goes far beyond statistics. With the Tigres, he played 444 matches for 222 goals, won five league titles and a Concacaf Champions League, while becoming a true icon in Monterrey. Loved for his efficiency but also for his attachment to the club and the city, he leaves the image of a player apart. On Saturday, Gignac will therefore have one last opportunity to conclude his career with a new title and exit through the front door, where he became a legend.
