Russian soccer’s all-time leading scorer Artem Dzyuba says he has retired

Russian soccer player Artem Dzyuba, the nation's all-time leading scorer, has announced his retirement from professional football. In an interview with TASS, Dzyuba, 38, hinted that he might continue playing for one of the influencer-backed teams in the Russian Cup for the sake of record-breaking. However, he remains uncertain about his future plans.

Dzyuba, who played as a striker for various clubs including Spartak, Tom, Rostov, Arsenal Tula, Adana Demirspor, and Lokomotiv, had a remarkable career in Russian soccer and for the national team. He won four Russian league titles with Zenit, secured three Russian Cups, and four Russian Super Cups. Dzyuba represented Russia in four major tournaments, including the 2016 and 2021 European Championships and the 2018 World Cup, held in Russia.

After playing for Akron in Tolyatti since 2024, Dzyuba had no club for the last season. Despite his retirement, he expressed interest in playing for an influencer-run team in the Russian Cup to secure his place in the record books.