Former Real Madrid and Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas has announced that he is gay.
Casillas recently split from his ex-wife and journalist Sara Carbonero. On Sunday, Casillas wrote: “I hope they respect me: I am gay #happysunday”.
The 41-year-old retired in 2020 after a spell in Portugal with Porto. He made 167 appearances for Spain at senior international level.
Some Spanish reports suggest it could be a joke after Carles Puyol responded with the message: “It’s time to tell them about us, Iker”, along with a heart emoji.
Casillas, who retired in 2020 after suffering a cardiac arrest during training with his final club Porto, is remembered for being one of football’s most successful goalkeepers.
The Spaniard won one World Cup, two European Championships, five La Liga titles and three Champions Leagues in a distinguished senior career that spanned 22 years.
Spending a total of 25 years with Real Madrid, whom he joined at the age of nine, the Los Blancos hero lifted a whopping 19 trophies, while also captaining the team from 2010 until his departure in 2015.
