Striker Sergio "Kun" Agüero from FC Barcelona declared his career as a professional footballer over at the age of 33 because of his heart problems.
"It's a very tough moment for me, but health comes first," said the Argentine on Wednesday at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, crying and with a broken voice.
The 101-time international who scored 42 goals for the "Albiceleste" had previously been diagnosed with malignant cardiac arrhythmias.
Agüero suddenly collapsed in the 40th minute of Barça's league game against Deportivo Alavés at Camp Nou at the end of October.
He grabbed his chest, gasped, and was changed.
After ten successful years at Manchester City, the professional only moved to Barcelona in the summer.
At ManCity he was an idol: In 275 competitive games he scored 184 times.
This makes him by far the most successful professional in the club's history and also the best foreign goalscorer in the Premier League.
Before that, Agüero had played for Atlético Madrid from 2006 to 2011 and scored 74 goals in 175 competitive games.
The 1.73 meter tall striker made his professional debut in Buenos Aires in 2003 at Independiente.
At the age of 15 years, one month and three days, he became the youngest player in the history of the Argentine Primera División - a record he still holds today.
The 2008 Olympic champion was often in the gossip columns at home because he was in a relationship with Giannina Maradona, the daughter of football legend Diego Maradona, for years.
Both gave a grandson to the 1986 world champion who died the previous year.
Benjamin, now twelve, is the godson of Lionel Messi and is considered a talented football player.