Veteran Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas announced on Tuesday his retirement from football for 39 years, after a long career that has lasted for more than 20 years in the stadiums, most notably with Real Madrid and the national team that crowned him as world champion in 2010.

"Today is at the same time one of the most important and toughest days in my sporting life, it is time to say (to the meeting)," Casillas wrote, through a statement on his accounts on social media.

Casillas' announcement of his retirement was expected recently, especially after he avoided competitions with Porto, who moved to him in 2015, since he suffered a heart attack early May 2019.

Casillas fought a rich career with Real Madrid (1999-2015), who grew up in his ranks, as the club's website describes him as "the best goalkeeper in our history" after he played 725 games (the second was historically behind record holder Raul with 741 games), which saw his crowning with 19 Two titles, most notably three in the Champions League, five in the Spanish League and two in the Spanish Cup.

In 2015, the goalkeeper moved to Porto, Portugal, with whom he won the League twice and the Cup once.

He also carried the captaincy of the Spanish national team, with which he played 167 international matches, and was part of a golden squad that won three consecutive big titles: the 2010 World Cup, the European Cup 2008 and 2012.

Casillas has maintained his presence in the perfect squad for FIFA (the best 11 players according to Vivpro) for five consecutive years between 2008 and 2012.

Casillas expressed his desire to stand for the presidency of the Spanish Federation for the game last February before he abandoned it last June because of the situation created by the epidemic of the Corona virus emerging in his country.

According to local press reports in July, Casillas will return to Real Madrid to take up a consultative position for his President Florentino Perez.

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