Ferrari announced Michael Schumacher is to come out of retirement to fill in until the injured Felipe Massa is fit to race again.

JASON ROBINSON/MARK REGAN/LAWRENCE DALLAGLIO

The England rugby union trio were lured out of international retirement ahead of the 2007 World Cup. Having played in England's triumph four years earlier, they then helped Brian Ashton's unfancied team reach the final in Paris.

NIKI LAUDA

Austrian driver Lauda won the Formula One world championship for Ferrari in 1975 and 1977, but two years later he quit motor racing to focus on running his airline. He returned with McLaren in 1982, and in 1984 landed his third world title. Retired again at the end of the 1985 season.

ZINEDINE ZIDANE

The French superstar retired from international football after France were knocked out by Greece in the Euro 2004 quarter-finals, but in August 2005 he announced his comeback and was installed as captain. Reached 100 caps for France shortly before the 2006 World Cup where he inspired Raymond Domenech's side to go all the way to the final. In the final, against Italy, Zidane scored a penalty but was later sent off for headbutting Marco Materazzi. It was his final act as a professional footballer.

BJORN BORG

Swedish tennis great Borg won 11 grand slam titles before retiring at the age of 26. The player who had won his first grand slam title as an 18-year-old at the French Open looked to be lost to the sport. It may have been better for all concerned if he was, for in 1991 he attempted a comeback and came nowhere near to reliving his former glories, failing to win even one match.

LANCE ARMSTRONG

The Texan survived cancer to win a record-breaking seven consecutive Tour de France crowns, the last of which heralded his retirement from the sport in 2005. He announced last September he would return for another crack at the yellow jersey, but it did not go exactly as planned. He finished third, still an impressive feat for the 37-year-old, but fell out with Astana team-mate and Tour winner Alberto Contador, who described their relationship as "non-existent".