Zinho Vanheusden, who played for Inter Milan between 2018 and 2025, has made the tough decision to retire aged 26 after he suffered a third knee injury
A former Inter Milan star has retired from football aged 26, admitting he just wants to “walk without pain”.
Zinho Vanheusden, who played for Inter Milan between 2018 and 2025, suffered his third anterior cruciate ligament tear of his career while playing for Marbella earlier this month. Vanheusden moved to Italy aged 16 after graduating from Standard Liege’s academy.
However, his time at the San Siro giants was plagued by injury – and he never made an appearance in Serie A. Instead, he turned out on loan at Genoa, AZ, Standard Liege and KV Mechelen.
He left Inter in the summer, joining third-tier Marbella to try and get some minutes under his belt. However, the defender has decided to retire after his latest injury.
In a touching Instagram post: “Today I am making a decision I never thought I would have to make at this age. After 22 years of soccer – from my fourth year until now – my life as a professional soccer player is coming to an end.
‘Football made me who I am today. It gave me a life I never dared to dream of as a child. From supporting my favourite club for years as a child with my dad at Sclessin, to then playing a hundred games for it myself, to scoring for the Ultras and even getting the honour of being a captain here.
“It didn’t stop there… I got the opportunity to make my national debut and to play in Serie A. All things that seemed unreal when I started.
“Besides all that beautiful, the last few years were tough. Much heavier than I ever seemed. Injuries, operations, injections, medication… I gave everything to go back, but it got harder every time.
“I was constantly searching for my level, overplayed through pain too often and lived after every workout or game uncertain about how my body would react the next day.
“I kept fighting to be the player I wanted to be, but every time a new fight came. In my heart I will always want to be a footballer, but my body has been saying enough for a while now.
‘And that’s why – out of respect for myself, for my health and for my responsibility as a father – I am making this decision. As surreal as it feels writing this. But I want to be able to walk in my life without pain, play with my son and enjoy life with my family…
“I don’t know what it will be like to get up without football, but I’m going to find out now.”