Yassine Meriah announces retirement from football due to injury struggles

Tunisian international Yassine Meriah, defender of Club Africain, has announced his retirement from football, a surprising decision that ends his career after years of competing at the highest levels. This news has sparked widespread reactions from Tunisian football fans and supporters of the red and white team.

Meriath, aged 33, has made the decision to leave Club Africain after a long struggle with injuries, despite joining the club in July last year on a two-year contract following his departure from Esperance Tunis on a free transfer after the end of his contract with the team.

The former captain of the Tunisia national team explained that injuries, especially knee problems, led him to put an end to his career, after experiencing a difficult period in recent years that saw him suffer a cruciate ligament tear twice, first while wearing the Tunisia national team jersey in 2021, and the second during his time with Esperance Tunis in 2024.

Meriem, whose participation with Tunisia in the FIFA World Cup 2025 was his last in the national team jersey, revealed his decision through a statement posted on his official Instagram account, confirming that he made the step after long consideration due to his health condition.

Meriayah said: "After a long consideration between myself and I, I decided today to stop my football activity for one reason, which is a health reason."

He added: "Today marks two years of suffering from a lot of pain in my knee. I tried as much as possible to play while using injections, but the time has come for these injections to lose their effect on my exhausting health condition."

He continued: "God willing, I hope I have accomplished a respectable career, and that I have not been stingy with any club whose colors I wore and defended. Thank you to everyone who supported me during all the difficult times I went through, even with a kind word... Goodbye football."

Throughout his career, Meriah has represented several Tunisian clubs, including Ariana Sports, Etoile Sportive Metlaoui, Sfaxien, Esperance Tunis, and Club Africain. He also had a professional stint outside Tunisia with Olympiacos and Al-Ain.

On the international stage, Meriath has played 95 matches with the Tunisian national team, during which he scored 6 goals. He also participated with the "Eagles of Carthage" in the FIFA World Cup 2018.