Morocco defender Adam Masina retires at 32 after CAN 2025 success

Adam Masina has ended his playing career at the age of 32, just months after helping Morocco secure the CAN 2025 title, according to several Moroccan sources.

The former Morocco international, who won 28 caps, officially announced his retirement on Wednesday. He is expected to begin coaching with fourth-tier Italian club Progresso Calcio, according to Corriere di Bologna.

Masina was a central figure in Morocco’s CAN 2025 campaign and became a regular starter after the opening two group matches. Initially third in the defensive pecking order under former head coach Walid Regragui, the Khouribga-born defender was promoted to partner Nayef Aguerd after Romain Saiss suffered a recurrence of his injury and Jawad El Yamiq endured a poor performance in the third group game.

He retained his place from that point through to the final, which Morocco lost on the pitch before being awarded the title two months later following a decision by the Jury of Appeal of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) concerning the match against Senegal.

That final appearance proved to be Masina’s last for the Lions of the Atlas. He was not selected by Mohamed Ouahbi for either the 2026 World Cup or the final international camp in September-October.

Masina began his career in the Bologna academy before playing for Giacomense, Watford, Udinese and Torino, his most recent club.

His career was significantly affected by a serious cruciate ligament injury suffered at the end of August 2022. Since then, the 1.92m defender has continued to struggle with fitness problems.

Torino terminated his contract at the beginning of February, while Masina had been dealing with a hip contusion since the end of January.