All basketball fans are well aware of how painful it is to bid farewell to one of the greatest star in the history of the NBA these days.

Kobe Bryant registered 60 points in LA Laker’s win over Utah Jazz yesterday night, proving once again how much a true champion and legend can be important to help his team sealing a victory, even during his last day at work.

CM.com’s Angelo Taglieri has ranked the top 10 football legends’ farewell, not only picking the most moving, but also the most uncommon ones, like Zinedine Zidane’s headbutt during the 2006 World Cup final, the last thing the Frenchman did as a football player.

We’ve decided to include in the ranking only official games and not friendly matches specifically organized for a football player’s farewell, that’s why you find AC Milan manager Franco Baresi in the ranking.

1. Zinedine Zidane

2. Paolo Maldini

3. Alessandro Del Piero

4. Roberto Baggio

5. Steven Gerrard

6. Javier Zanetti

7. Xavi

8. Martin Palermo


9. Stilijan Petrov
10. Marco van Basten


Angelo Taglieri