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Wesley Sneijder

Wesley Sneijder is a Dutch former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Wesley Sneijder is a Dutch former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder. He is best known for his spells with Ajax, Real Madrid, Inter Milan, and Galatasaray, and for his long international career with the Netherlands. He retired from professional football in 2019.

Club career

Sneijder rose through Ajax’s youth system and made his senior breakthrough there. He went on to play for Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Galatasaray, Nice, and Al Gharafa. His club career included domestic league titles in the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, and Turkey. With Inter Milan, he won the Serie A title, the UEFA Champions League, the FIFA Club World Cup, and two Coppa Italia titles. He was named UEFA Midfielder of the Season in 2010.

International career

Sneijder represented the Netherlands from 2003 to 2018 and became the country’s record appearance holder with 134 caps. He featured in three FIFA World Cups (2006, 2010, 2014) and three UEFA European Championships (2004, 2008, 2012).

Playing style and recognition

He was known as a technically gifted attacking midfielder with strong passing and set-piece ability. In 2010, he was recognized among the world’s top midfielders and received major individual honours, including the UEFA Midfielder of the Season award.

Retirement

Sneijder announced his retirement from professional football in August 2019. After retiring, he was reported to begin work with FC Utrecht.

Key facts

  • Sneijder developed at Ajax and made his senior breakthrough there.
  • He won league titles in the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, and Turkey.
  • With Inter Milan, he won the UEFA Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup, and two Coppa Italia titles.
  • He is the Netherlands' record cap holder with 134 appearances.
  • He played at three FIFA World Cups and three UEFA European Championships.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Wesley Sneijder?
Wesley Sneijder is a retired Dutch professional footballer best known as an attacking midfielder for Ajax, Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Galatasaray, and the Netherlands national team.
What position did he play?
He primarily played as an attacking midfielder.
Which clubs did he play for?
His senior clubs included Ajax, Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Galatasaray, Nice, and Al Gharafa.
What are his biggest achievements?
His major achievements include winning the UEFA Champions League with Inter Milan and domestic league titles in the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, and Turkey.
Is he the Netherlands' record appearance holder?
Yes. He made 134 appearances for the Netherlands and is the national team's record cap holder.
When did he retire?
He announced his retirement from professional football in August 2019.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wesley_Sneijder
    Supports: Career timeline, clubs, honours, retirement announcement, and major achievements.
  2. Wikipedia (German) — https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wesley_Sneijder
    Supports: Birth date, nationality, and Netherlands record appearance total.
  3. Wikipedia (Vietnamese) — https://vi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wesley_Sneijder
    Supports: International career span, 134 caps, 31 goals, and retirement from the Netherlands team.
  4. Sky Sports — https://www.skysports.com/wesley-sneijder
    Supports: Position, transfer history, and retirement from playing.
  5. ESPN — https://africa.espn.com/football/player/bio/_/id/28235/wesley-sneijder
    Supports: Birthdate, nationality, and playing position.