José Juan Macías Retires from Professional Soccer at 25

GUADALAJARA, Mexico — José Juan Macías, a promising young soccer player, has announced his retirement from professional soccer at just 25 years old, citing chronic injuries as the primary factor behind his decision. FOX Sports confirmed the news on Tuesday following reports from various sources, including Sergio Treviño and Carlos Rodrigo Hernández.

Macías, who had a brief stint with Santos Laguna, only managed to appear in five matches during his eight months with the team, suffering from multiple injuries along the way. His struggles date back to his time with Chivas, where he twice tore his anterior cruciate ligament.

“I have spent more time in surgeries and rehabilitation than on the field,” Macías said. “It is exhausting, both mentally and physically.” Since 2022, he has missed more than 60 matches between his time with Guadalajara and Santos.

Despite breaking his scoring drought earlier this season, Macías injured himself again during a game against Pachuca and could not return to the pitch. He initially garnered attention for his talent while in Chivas’ youth academy and shone at Club León, where he scored 16 goals across two tournaments in 2019.

His performance with León earned him a return to Chivas in early 2020, which led to a transfer to Getafe in Spain, but his time abroad lasted only six months with less than 200 minutes played in La Liga.

He returned to Chivas where injuries plagued his career, including two ligament tears. In the summer of 2024, he moved to Santos Laguna, where injuries continued to hinder his progress. His last goal came on January 20, 2025, against Pachuca, prior to his retirement announcement.