Former France Midfielder Dimitri Payet Retires from Professional Football at 38

Paris. Former French midfielder and West Ham United star Dimitri Payet has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 38. Speaking to journalists during halftime of the match between Marseille and Lille on Sunday night, Payet announced his decision to end his active playing career spanning 20 years.

He stated that it was a matter of pride for him to come from an island and remain at the highest level of world football for two decades. Payet's career was most notable for his stint at English club West Ham United.

Having joined West Ham from Marseille in 2015 for 10.7 million pounds, he won the hearts of the supporters in a short time by scoring 15 goals in 60 matches. However, in 2017, he returned to Marseille against the club's wishes.

Payet, who earned 38 caps for France, played a key role in taking the team to the final of the 2016 Euro Cup, where France was defeated by Portugal.

Becoming emotional during his farewell moment, Payet described the journey as a beautiful story. He played for prestigious clubs such as Nantes, Saint-Étienne, Lille, and the Brazilian club Vasco da Gama. After leaving Vasco da Gama last year, that club became the final destination of his career.

'My dream was to become a professional player, which I fulfilled,' he said, 'Playing for the national team and spending 20 years at this level is an extraordinary achievement for me.'