Pedro Rodríguez confirmed his retirement on 7 October 2026 at age 39 after his contract with Lazio expired in July 2026.
The forward concluded his playing career with 25 senior trophies, including 20 titles with Barcelona, three with Chelsea, and two with Spain.
Manager Vicente del Bosque started Pedro in the semi-final and final of the 2010 World Cup before the winger helped Spain win Euro 2012.
Pep Guardiola promoted Pedro from Barcelona B in 2008, rejecting loan and transfer proposals before the forward scored 99 goals in 321 appearances.
Former Spain winger Pedro Rodríguez announced his retirement from professional football on 7 October 2026 at the age of 39. The decision concludes a 20-year senior career that produced 25 trophies across Spain, England, and international tournaments. Pedro had been a free agent since his contract with Italian club Lazio expired in July 2026. He confirmed his departure through a video and statement published on social media, looking back on a journey that yielded 794 club appearances and 197 club goals. He thanked his former clubs, coaches, and supporters before confirming that he was ready to step away from active competition.
Pedro addressed his supporters directly in his written farewell statement.
“I leave proud of having lived my dream and of all the people who stood by my side to make it a reality. Thank you, football, for making me so happy.”
Born in Tenerife, Pedro developed his game at local club Raqui San Isidro between the ages of 12 and 17, earning the nickname "mascota" due to his smaller stature before debuting in the Spanish third tier. Barcelona scouts recruited him after watching him play in the Torneo Juvenil de Adeje. After Pedro moved between Barcelona C and the reserve side at age 20, newly appointed manager Pep Guardiola intervened to cancel a planned loan to Racing Portuense, instead relying on the winger during a promotion campaign to Segunda B. Guardiola later rejected a club proposal to include Pedro in an exchange deal for defender Filipe Luís. Pedro broke into Barcelona's senior team in 2008 and scored 99 goals in 321 appearances alongside Lionel Messi, Xavi Hernández, and Andrés Iniesta, winning 20 trophies that included five La Liga championships and three Champions League titles.
In a farewell video recorded at the Camp Nou, Pedro recalled his progression from the Canary Islands to European club football.
“Everything started on a dirt pitch on my island, Tenerife, with a ball that I never let go. Being part of the best Barca in history was a privilege; we won everything and amazed the world.”
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Pedro transitioned quickly from third-tier football to international honours, earning selection for the Spanish national team under manager Vicente del Bosque. Del Bosque named him to the starting lineup for both the semi-final and the final of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, where Spain defeated the Netherlands to secure the trophy. Two years later, Pedro helped Spain retain the European Championship at Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine. He represented Spain 65 times between 2010 and 2017, scoring 17 international goals. On the club stage, he scored the opening goal in Barcelona's 3-1 victory against Manchester United in the 2011 Champions League final at Wembley Stadium, adding to an international haul that also included two FIFA Club World Cups and three UEFA Super Cups.
Pedro left Barcelona in 2015 to join Chelsea, where he adapted to English football across five seasons. He won the Premier League title in the 2016–2017 season, an FA Cup, and the 2018–2019 Europa League during his time in London. In 2020, Pedro moved to Italy to sign with AS Roma for one campaign before crossing the capital to join Lazio in 2021. He spent five seasons with Lazio, making 33 appearances, scoring five goals, and registering two assists during his final 2025–2026 campaign. Following his retirement announcement, former teammates including Xavi Hernández, Valentín Castellanos, Davide Zappacosta, and Luis Alberto posted messages of support on social media.
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The former Barcelona, Chelsea, and Spain forward concluded a 20-year career on 7 October 2026 after finishing a five-season spell with Lazio in Rome.
AI text based on reports by El Confidencial, Reuters, TVN24.pl and other publishers. Changed . How it is made