Yassine Meriah announces retirement from football

Tunisian central defender Yassine Meriah has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 33 due to persistent health issues. In a statement shared via Instagram, Meriah explained that he has suffered from chronic knee pain and stiffness for the past two years.

He noted that despite attempting various treatments, including injections, the medical interventions are no longer effective. His struggles include a previous serious injury sustained while playing for Al Ain and a more recent setback following a cruciate ligament rupture with Espérance de Tunis in late 2024.

Meriah’s career included stints with CS Sfaxien, Espérance de Tunis, and most recently Club Africain. Internationally, he represented the Tunisian national team in the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups, as well as multiple Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.