Sport
Swiss Footballer Silvan Wallner Retires at 22 to Focus on Following Jesus Christ
Silvan Wallner, a 22-year-old Swiss midfielder, has announced his retirement from professional football to focus on his faith and commitment to following Jesus Christ.
Wallner, who began his professional career in 2020 with FC Zurich, has played over 100 matches across different clubs, including Wil and Austrian side Blau-Weiß Linz.
He joined Linz on a two-year contract in September and was expected to play a pivotal role in the team.
However, his announcement has shifted the focus from his athletic prowess to his deeply personal convictions.
In a statement released through his current club, Wallner explained his decision, emphasizing the importance of his Christian faith.
“I am a devout Christian, and I read the Bible. I make my own decisions about my life,” he said.
“I wish to follow Jesus Christ, and the biblical day of rest has become important to me.
This means that I no longer want to play professionally on Saturdays.”
Wallner also clarified that he is not affiliated with any particular church but made this decision based on his understanding of the Bible and his personal convictions.
Wallner’s choice to step away from professional football has sparked a range of reactions.
While some fans and pundits are surprised by his decision to retire at such a young age, many have expressed admiration for his courage and commitment to his beliefs.
His statement also included gratitude to those who have supported him throughout his career.
“I say a big thank you to people who have accompanied and supported me in my sporting career,” he added.
The young midfielder was recently part of the Swiss U21 national team and made his last international appearance in early September during a 1-2 loss to Albania.
Former footballer Thierry Henry has shared his thoughts on Arsenal’s match following their loss to Atlético Madrid on October 13.
Speaking during a brief interview on CBS Sports, Henry criticised the practice of players or coaches expressing certain opinions through the media instead of addressing issues directly within the dressing room.
“I’m not a coach anymore, but I always say, whoever speaks like that, out. Keep that in the dressing room, it’s as simple as that,” Henry said on CBS Sports.
“That is the only way it can work. You have to say those things to a person’s face… going through the press, I am not really a fan of that.”
Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique has shared his thoughts on the 2026 Ballon d’Or award, revealing that he hopes the winner will come from his team.
The manager spoke about how hard his players have worked and expressed his belief that they deserve the recognition.
“What I hope is that we win this trophy. We have players who deserve it.”
“Last year, we were the best team. We showed that it wasn’t just Ousmane Dembélé who deserved it.”
French football pundit Walid Acherchour has named Lamine Yamal as his pick to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or, sparking reactions among football fans.
Acherchour’s choice came as a surprise to some fans, who expected him to support fellow Frenchman Kylian Mbappé instead.
Speaking about his prediction, Acherchour expressed confidence in Yamal’s chances of winning the prestigious individual award.
“For me, Lamine Yamal, he is going to get it [2026 Ballon d’Or]. For me, there’s no doubt anymore,” Acherchour said, as quoted by Actu Foot. That start to the season shows that in fact, he was injured during the World Cup. He was the best player in La Liga, and he won the World Cup.
“Even if, for me, in fact, he doesn’t have the Ballon d’Or unanimously because his World Cup was average, even being average, he won it with Spain. He won La Liga with Barça.”
Judge Tells Duane Davis He Must Face Justice for Tupac’s Murder
Timini Egbuson Reflects on Embracing YouTube Movies in Nollywood
