Brazilian legend Ronaldo has confirmed that he is retiring from playing with immediate effect at the age of 34.
The Rio-born striker has announced he is bringing down the curtain on one of the most prestigious careers the world of football has seen in recent years.
During his career, he scored over 350 club goals and he won 97 caps for Brazil, scoring 62 times at international level.
He also helped his country to two World Cup wins and was named World Player of the Year three times.
“I can’t take any more,” he told Estado de Sao Paulo.
“I wanted to continue, but I can’t do it any more. I think of an action, but I can’t do it the way I want to. It’s time.
“It’s the body that’s hurting me. The head wants to go on, but the body can’t take any more.”
Ronaldo began his career at Cruzeiro in his homeland and went on to play for PSV Eindhoven, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and AC Milan before returning to Brazil to join Corinthians.
He is a three-time winner of the FIFA World Player of the Year award (1996, 1997, 2002) and twice won the Ballon d’Or (1997, 2002) and his strike against Ghana in 2006 made him the all-time leading goalscorer in World Cup finals.