Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

Eran Zahavi Retires: Israel's Soccer Legend Reflects on 438 Goals

1/1/2026

42 8 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Eran Zahavi, Israel's all-time leading scorer, announced his retirement from soccer at age 38.
In a farewell Instagram post, he reflected on his journey and thanked soccer.
Zahavi scored 438 goals, with spells at Maccabi Tel Aviv, Hapoel Tel Aviv, and in Chinese Super League.
He won six league titles and was a three-time Israeli Footballer of the Year, and his final match saw him score twice.

History

Historical Context

Israel's national soccer team first qualified for the FIFA World Cup in 1970, marking a significant milestone in the country's sports history. Eran Zahavi, who became Israel's all-time top scorer with 35 goals, played a crucial role in the sport's development, winning six league titles and three Israeli Footballer of the Year awards during his career. His retirement signifies a pivotal moment for Israeli soccer.

1 of 2

Story summary

Eran Zahavi, Israel's all-time leading scorer, announced his retirement from soccer at age 38.
In a farewell Instagram post, he reflected on his journey and thanked soccer.
Zahavi scored 438 goals, with spells at Maccabi Tel Aviv, Hapoel Tel Aviv, and in Chinese Super League.
He won six league titles and was a three-time Israeli Footballer of the Year, and his final match saw him score twice.

1 / 2