Raphael Varane. Career in pictures

Today, Raphaël Varane, one of the best central defenders of this century, officially announced his retirement from professional football. Varane's prime years were spent at Real Madrid, while his last club was Serie A newcomer Como. Unfortunately, a serious injury prevented him from even making his Serie A debut.

Dailysports decided to illustrate the remarkable career of the 31-year-old Frenchman through photographs.

First Season at Lens

Raphaël Varane began his professional career at his hometown club, Lens, where he played just one season, making 23 appearances and scoring two goals in the 2010/11 Ligue 1 campaign.

Signing with Real Madrid

In the summer of 2011, Varane transferred to Real Madrid for €11 million.

First Goal for Real Madrid

Varane made his debut for Real in an away match against Racing Santander, and in his second appearance, he scored his first goal for the club in a game against Rayo Vallecano.

Champions League Debut

In September 2011, Varane made his debut in the UEFA Champions League during a group stage match against Ajax.

First La Liga Title

In his debut season with Real Madrid, Varane won his first La Liga title.

France National Team Debut

After establishing himself as a regular starter for Real Madrid, Varane made his debut for the French national team in March 2013 during a World Cup 2014 qualifier against Georgia.

First Champions League Trophy

In the 2013/14 season, Varane won his first Champions League title with Real Madrid. This was the legendary final against Atlético Madrid, which featured Sergio Ramos’ last-minute equalizer.

World Cup Debut

In 2014, Raphaël Varane made his debut in the FIFA World Cup. He played four matches during the tournament in Brazil.

Three Consecutive Champions League Wins

Varane was a key player for Real Madrid when they won the Champions League three times in a row under Zinedine Zidane.

World Cup Triumph

In 2018, Raphaël Varane became a World Cup champion as France defeated Croatia in the final.

Farewell to Real Madrid

In the summer of 2021, Varane left Real Madrid and signed with Manchester United.

World Cup Final Defeat and Retirement from the French National Team

One of the biggest disappointments in Varane's career was France's defeat in the 2022 World Cup final against

Argentina. This match marked his last appearance for the French national team.

First Trophy in England

Although Varane's time at Manchester United was marred by injuries, he did win two trophies with the club. His first was the EFL Cup in 2023.

Transfer to Como

In the summer of 2024, Varane joined Serie A newcomers Como. However, in his first match in the Coppa Italia against Sampdoria, he suffered a severe knee injury, leading him to the decision to retire from football.