Ivan Soldo has announced his immediate AFL retirement after rupturing an ACL in 2026, ending a 66-game career across Richmond and Port Adelaide.
Ivan Soldo’s AFL career has come to an abrupt end after a serious knee injury forced him to make a call earlier than he likely wanted.
The 30-year-old announced his immediate retirement following an ACL rupture in February. an injury that ruled him out of the entire 2026 season.. For Soldo. it closes the chapter on 66 games across two clubs. including a premiership moment with Richmond and a later attempt at a fresh start at Port Adelaide.
Soldo spent nine seasons in the AFL. starting with Richmond after being recruited as a Category B rookie and gradually developing into a ruck option during the Tigers’ premiership era.. His trajectory at Richmond culminated in the 2019 flag. a title that still shapes how many supporters remember that era of the club.. By the time he left. he had built a reputation for commitment and resilience—traits that were put under a harsher spotlight when injuries began to limit his availability.
When he moved to Port Adelaide at the end of 2023. the message was straightforward: more opportunity. a new environment. and a chance to keep contributing at the level he had earned.. But the switch didn’t produce the clean run he would have planned.. Soldo managed nine matches for the Power before knee trouble cut in again. ultimately leading to the February ACL rupture that became the final deciding factor.
The timing is the toughest part. ACL injuries often demand long rehabilitation timelines, and Soldo’s decision reflects a reality many athletes face when the next step becomes uncertain: the body’s capacity, the mental load of recovery, and the sense that time may be better redirected elsewhere.
For Port Adelaide, the loss is both on-field and cultural.. Ruck stocks require specific physical preparation. and when a player’s role is disrupted by injury. the knock-on effects are felt by coaches. teammates. and list management alike.. Club leadership moved quickly to confirm ongoing support. with Port Adelaide’s football department indicating Soldo will not be left to navigate the transition alone.
There is also a clear off-field dimension to the next phase of his life.. Soldo is in a relationship with influencer Chelsea Becirevic. often described in Melbourne media as “Footy’s Hottest WAG. ” a label that has followed them through the public spotlight since their relationship began in 2022.. Their connection has stayed visible even when football geography complicated things. with long-distance periods during Soldo’s Port Adelaide tenure and later a move to Melbourne.
The pair’s decision to step further into business together adds another layer of momentum to this pivot.. They have reportedly launched a fashion label together, turning their personal brand into a shared venture.. While that doesn’t change the heartbreak of a premature sporting exit. it does suggest Soldo is actively planning for life beyond AFL—an increasingly common path for players facing the end of a career.
From a football perspective. Soldo’s retirement is a reminder that even established contributors—players who have won premierships and earned trust in high-pressure roles—can still be sidelined by the most unforgiving kind of injury.. For fans. it’s a chance to acknowledge the full arc: the Richmond premiership ruckman who tried to extend his prime at Port Adelaide. and now the athlete stepping away with gratitude rather than unfinished business.
Misryoum will keep tracking how AFL clubs manage the ripple effects of injury-driven retirements. especially when it comes to ruck depth. list planning. and the off-field transition support that follows.. For Ivan Soldo. the story now moves from matchday moments to what comes next—while the legacy of his career. including the premiership with Richmond. remains a permanent part of the record.