The year 2022 was vital for plenty of reasons going from the Australian Open show to the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
In the same year that saw a number of elite athletes realize their long-held ambitions, a number of stars came to the attention of the general public.Here are some of the biggest names who said their final goodbyes:
Roger Federer
Roger Federer is without a doubt a sporting king. He is one of the biggest sporting icons on the planet. Everyone who had been involved in any way with the game wept when the Swiss master called it quits.
He saw rivals and friends Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic later with a smile and a nod of approval surpass his tally of 20 Grand Slam titles, which set the standard for what could be accomplished in male tennis.
The maestro’s final stage of his illustrious career was marred by injuries, and the fairytale ending he deserved never came to pass when the dream doubles team of Federer.
Serena Williams
Serena will continue to be the example that an entire generation of African Americans will follow. The 41-year-old has dominated the competition year after year with her signature power and precision, becoming a true icon and a role model for women in sports.
According to up-and-coming American tennis sensation Francis Tiafoe, she remains one of the sport’s most decorated players with 23 grand slam titles and paved the way for future generations.
She is unquestionably a true legend thanks to her seven singles titles at Wimbledon and Australia, six US Open trophies, and three French Open medals.
Ash Barty
A tennis star from Australia, caused quite a stir early in the year when she announced that she would be retiring from the sport of tennis despite currently holding the position of world number one in the women’s game.
The Queensland star made the decision to end her young career at the tender age of 25 months after winning the Australian Open Grand Slam.
She joined a select group of elite athletes, including Olympian Mark Spitz, Justin Hennin, and Bjorn Borg, who retired early while still performing at their highest levels.
Allyson Felix
North American track and field athlete who has been a stalwart in her field for about two decades. She inspired an entire generation to take up athletics.
Felix, who has competed in five Olympic games and won more medals than any other female athlete, won her first medal in 2004 when she was 18 years old.
Gerard Pique
Spanish defender Gerard Pique, the winner of the FIFA World Cup and the UEFA Euro, was one of the biggest names to retire in the past year. He said his final goodbye with a tearful goodbye in front of the Barcelona fans, with whom he spent the majority of his playing career.
Carlos Tevez
Carlos Tevez was at his best, he was a hardworking bulldog on the field. When he was at his best, the Argentine Tevez was a sight to be scared of when he charged at defenders.
The forward who won the Premier League and played in a dangerous trio with Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United enraged United fans when he switched to Manchester City’s blue team instead of United’s red.
El Apache’s footballing ability is undeniable, despite the division he caused among football fans; he won multiple league titles in England, Italy with Juventus, and Argentina with his beloved Boca Juniors in his hometown of Buenos Aires.
Gonzalo Higuain
The forward also ended his career after a stint with the David Beckham-owned American team Inter Miami. Higuain was a promising young player who raised high expectations.
During his early years, a young Higuain was the talk of the town. Europe’s most successful club, Real Madrid, was impressed by his work for River Plate, an Argentine megaclub. After scoring 107 goals in 190 games for the Spanish team, he decided to join Napoli in Italy.
He went from AC Milan to Chelsea in England on loan, then across the Atlantic to Miami, where he finished his career.
Vettel, Sebastian
When he posted a video of himself announcing his retirement during the course of the season, Sebastian Vettel, who has won the Formula One championship four times, took the internet and the world by storm.
The 35-year-old German driver was a standout when he drove for his former team, Red Bull Racing. Beginning in 2010, the man from Heppenheim won the title for four years in a row.
Vettel left Ferrari for Aston Martin, but in his final years of racing, he never came close to challenging for the championship. Ferrari and Vettel parted ways.