Argentina's most covered player Javier Mascherano has declared his retirement from football, aged 36.
Mascherano, a confrontational midfielder at River Plate, Corinthians, Liverpool, and Barcelona among different clubs, made his unexpected declaration after his side Estudiantes lost 1-0 to Argentinos Juniors in a group coordinate on Sunday.
"I experienced my calling 100%, to the greatest that I can, and for some time now that has been getting more enthusiastically," he told journalists. "Now and again you don't pick the end, it happens without help from anyone else."
Mascherano making the most of his best spell at Barcelona, where he won 19 titles in eight years, including five La Ligas and two Champions Leagues.
He played multiple times for Argentina, showing up in four World Cup finals. He additionally won two gold decorations with the Argentine Olympics group in 2004 and 2008.