At 39, the Uruguayan leaves after a season marred by injuries, leaving a void in the attack.
Edinson Cavani will no longer wear the jersey. The 39-year-old Uruguayan striker has formalized his departure from the Argentine club, putting an end to a brief but intense adventure marked by recurring injuries. Arriving with the label of world star to galvanize the attack, Cavani was never able to deploy his full potential in the Xeneize colors.
His unique season was a real physical ordeal, keeping him away from the field for long weeks and preventing him from establishing himself as the offensive leader expected by the técnico. At 39, the body no longer responds to high-level demands, and the statistics suffer cruelly from this prolonged absence. The La Bombonera club now finds itself with a gaping hole in its squad, forced to recalibrate its attack without its main reference for future competitions.
Cavani did not hide his emotion during the public announcement, delivering a raw message to supporters. He described this moment as "one of the greatest sadnesses" of his career, highlighting the psychological difficulty of leaving like this without having been able to say goodbye on the field. The attachment to the supporters and the blue and gold jersey is sincere, but sporting reality has taken precedence over feelings.
It's a bitter farewell for a player accustomed to triumphing on five continents, who admits to having hoped for a more glorious and concrete end in Argentina. On a purely tactical level, the void left by the Uruguayan goes beyond the simple absence of goals. Cavani served as a pivot for restarts and a bulwark for the midfielders, allowing the team to build the block without fearing a counter-attack.
Without its ability to keep the game with its back to goal, Boca lost its most effective means of pressure. The opponents, aware of this weakness, were able to tighten their defense and stifle the creative xeneizes, transforming matches won in advance on paper into sessions of tactical frustration. This separation highlights the growing gap between European and South American football in terms of pace and density of matches.
The arrival of veterans is often seen as a shortcut to success, but it comes up against the brutal reality of a championship where physical intensity takes precedence over pure technique. Boca's gamble reflects a collective disillusionment: the name of a player is no longer enough to guarantee a performance, and adapting to the Argentine championship requires a resilience that even World Cup legends struggle to maintain after 38 years. The question now turns to the immediate future of the Matador.
Return to Europe for a final challenge within a mid-table club or definitive sporting retirement? Speculation is rife in the specialist press, but at this venerable age and with this heavy medical history, the options are drastically reduced. Boca, for their part, must move quickly on the transfer market to fill this offensive void before the start of the next season.
Boca's recruitment strategy is now under scrutiny. Hiring a veteran of this age with a high salary was a risky gamble that backfired, highlighting the danger of prioritizing past reputation over current physical ability. The financial weight of such a contract, even if terminated, often weighs heavily in South American football where budgets are tighter than in Europe.
The club needs to make a shift towards youth or a more durable centre-forward, as the 'star power' experiment has failed spectacularly. The supporters were waiting for a savior, they only received a medical report. This departure also illustrates the brutal reality of sporting aging for the elites.
Cavani's career, built on relentless work intensity and aerial dominance, hit a wall that no amount of professionalism could overcome. This offers a stark contrast to his glory years at Napoli or Paris Saint-Germain, where his engine never stopped. The transition from elite scorer to fragile veteran is an all-too-frequent narrative, but it hurts when it affects a warrior of his ilk.
His global legacy remains intact, but this Argentine chapter will be etched as a frustrating footnote rather than a final triumph. Read at Le Parisien Sport
Cavani's departure marks the failure of a daring bet by Boca Juniors. The club hoped to use the experience of the former PSG as leverage for the title, but injuries got the better of this project. This leaves an attack orphaned and forces the leaders to review their offensive strategy, while the Uruguayan stands at a decisive crossroads in his legendary career.
England’s defensive icon ties herself to the Blues, locking down a core piece of Chelsea’s domestic and European dominance.
Alistair Johnston shares his emotional journey as Canada co-hosts the 2026 FIFA World Cup, highlighting the pride of playing at home.
FC Nantes welcomes back Michel Der Zakarian as head coach, aiming to revive their fortunes in Ligue 1.
A muscle bundle tear sidelines rising star Lennart Karl, prompting Bayern to reassess their strategy ahead of a crucial period.
The 39-year-old Uruguayan striker has severed his link with Boca Juniors, without definitively ending his career. The rest will be written elsewhere or on the bench.
Dutch FA’s decision to bench Bayern defender Timber underscores USMNT’s defensive frailties as the 2026 World Cup group stage approaches.
The 39-year-old Uruguayan striker has severed his link with Boca Juniors, without definitively ending his career. The rest will be written elsewhere or on the bench.
Dutch FA’s decision to bench Bayern defender Timber underscores USMNT’s defensive frailties as the 2026 World Cup group stage approaches.
Tottenham Hotspur's transfer strategy takes a bold turn with the signing of Sandro Tonali from Newcastle United.
The tactician behind Bregawn’s historic 1983 win has passed away after a battle with dementia.
Plymouth teenager and Wales youth international Molly Stroud signs for Manchester City's academy, swapping grassroots football for the WSL champions.
ESPN’s Nicol alleges unchecked player conduct could derail Chelsea’s transfer plans and escalate a PR storm.
Two legends clash in Toronto as Portugal and Croatia fight for survival in the World Cup. The loser goes home tonight.
The young star says Spain is confident and ready to prove no team is invincible in the knockout rounds.
The Bordelaises lost 18-15 against Rennes in an intense final of the French championship in Clermont-Ferrand, despite fierce resistance in overtime.
Schedule, where to watch and the epic clash of former Real Madrid teammates in Toronto.
Two legends clash in Toronto as Portugal and Croatia fight for survival in the World Cup. The loser goes home tonight.
The young star says Spain is confident and ready to prove no team is invincible in the knockout rounds.
With 38 of the top 50 free agents already off the board, the remaining big names—LeBron, Harden, Draymond and more—could redefine the 2026-27 title race.
Folarin Balogun’s first-half strike and Malik Tillman’s free-kick sealed a nervy 2-0 win that kept the U.S. alive in Qatar’s 2026 qualifiers.
Plymouth teenager and Wales youth international Molly Stroud signs for Manchester City's academy, swapping grassroots football for the WSL champions.
Mir exits Honda to join Gresini Ducati, reuniting with title-winning crew chief Frankie Carchedi.
