Sierra Leone forward Kei Kamara has officially retired from professional football at age 41, ending one of the most durable careers in Major League Soccer history.
The striker, who sits second on the MLS all-time scoring list with 147 goals behind Chris Wondolowski's 173, announced his decision in a video message this week. "I never played for just one crest," Kamara said. "I played for the love of the game, and the places it carried me." His retirement was confirmed on May 4, 2026, as the league's second-leading scorer.
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| Kei Kamara at the TQLStaduim |
Kamara's longevity was matched by his movement. He holds the MLS record for representing 12 different clubs, a run that took him from his early years with Columbus Crew and San Jose Earthquakes to later stints with Houston Dynamo, Sporting Kansas City, New England Revolution, Vancouver Whitecaps, Colorado Rapids, Minnesota United, CF Montreal, Chicago Fire, Los Angeles FC and FC Cincinnati. Outside the United States, he also featured for Norwich City and Middlesbrough in England, and for HIFK in Finland, building a reputation as a physical target man who could deliver goals immediately after joining a new dressing room.
For Sierra Leone, Kamara served the Leone Stars for 17 years after debuting in 2008. He earned 45 caps and scored eight goals, and captained the country to the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon, its first appearance in the tournament in 25 years. He first stepped away from international duty in 2022, then returned in 2024 to aid the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign before making his final appearance against Djibouti last October. He departs as both an MLS icon and one of Sierra Leone's most influential football figures.