Geraint Thomas has said 2025 will be his final year in the professional cycling peloton - becoming one of the first big names to announce their retirement this year.
The former Tour de France winner and multiple Olympic champion said the “timing is right” to step away and follows boxer Tyson Fury and tennis star Simona Halep in calling it a day.
It could be a bumper year for sports stars announcing their retirement, with question marks surrounding the future of Novak Djokovic, Tiger Woods and more.
But perhaps, as 40-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo signing a new contract shows, some things never change in sport and some old pros might be around for a while yet.
Here are some of those who are rumoured to be retiring this year.
Which sports stars are retiring in 2025?
Already retired in 2025
Simona Halep
Aged 33, the former world number one announced her retirement in January after a final game in her native Romania.
She said: “It’s a beautiful thing. I became world No 1, I won grand slams, it’s all I wanted. Life goes on, there is life after tennis.”
Tyson Fury
Another to bow out after a defeat in January was boxing champ Tyson Fury - who fans had hoped might put plans on hold to finally face Anthony Joshua in the ring this summer.
Fury called it a day after losing to Oleksandr Usyk. But the Gypsy King has retired multiple times before and always returned to the ring.
Will be retiring
Geraint Thomas
Tour de France winner in 2018, the Welsh cyclist also has two Olympic golds and will pedal on for one final season in 2025.
Thomas is now 38 and has no definitive plans for what’s next but says he has been “warned off Strictly” by his family.
Might be retiring
Chris Froome
The four-time Tour-winning cyclist has previously suggested that 2025 will be his last year.
He told Eurosport in December that the Vuelta a Espana could be his final tour. Froome will turn 40 this year.
Thierry Neuville
Having won the World Rally Championship in 2024, the Belgian has a one-year contract with his team Hyundai and has previously addressed rumours he might retire.
Novak Djokovic and Venus Williams
Two tennis greats who are getting on in years, Novak Djokovic and Venus Williams have both faced questions about their future but are set to play on at least in 2025.
Djokovic said in January he was not planning to retire. Williams said last year that she would not retire, even at 44.
Travis Kelce
American footballer Kelce has said he is considering leaving the game behind but is yet to make up his mind.
Taylor Swift’s boyfriend played as tight end as his Kansas City Chiefs side lost the Super Bowl earlier this month.
Simone Biles
The US gymnast somewhat literally bounced back in 2024 to win vault gold at the Olympics and said she was retiring from the event, but not yet her sport.
“Never say never,” Biles said in Paris. “Next Olympics are at home. So you just never know. I am getting really old.”
Tiger Woods
The American has not won a major tournament since, but even in his late 40s, he remains a force and has not committed to retiring from golf.
“I’ll play as long as I can play and I feel like I can still win the event,” he said last year.
Eliud Kipchoge and Kenenisa Bekele
The greatest two male long-distance runners of all time are both now over 40 but Kipchoge at least will run the London Marathon in April.
The Kenyan has said this will not be the end but his long-time Ethiopian rival Bekele (who beat him to gold way back in Athens 2004) has been quiet since Paris 2024.
Won’t be retiring
Fernando Alonso and Sir Lewis Hamilton
Alonso, 42, has been on the F1 grid since 2001 but is seemingly as hungry as ever for a third world title and has agreed a deal with Aston Martin for the next two seasons.
His former teammate and long-time rival Sir Lewis Hamilton, 40, also has a deal until at least the end of 2026 after signing for Ferrari.
Cristiano Ronaldo
The Portuguese has recently turned 40 and, perhaps as a present, has been given a new contract by his Saudi Arabian club side Al-Nasr.
Ronaldo is apparently happy to keep pushing his body for £167.9million (and who wouldn’t be?) with his sights set on the 2026 World Cup.
Kazuyoshi Miura
The world’s oldest active professional footballer will turn 58 on February 26 but is still playing in his native Japan, having scored goals in Italy, Croatia and Brazil in a lengthy career.
Miura, who featured in the original Fifa 1996 video game, will play for Japan Football League (JFL) side Suzuka from March in the new season.
