The French top footballer Franck Ribéry has confirmed the end of his career on social media.

"The ball is still.

Not the feelings in me," wrote the 39-year-old on Instagram on Friday.

The former Bayern Munich winger also posted a video with highlights from his career.

“Despite all my efforts over the past few months, the pain in my knee has only gotten worse.

I have no choice but to stop."

For him it was “the end of a wonderful chapter in my life.

I experienced unbelievable moments and unforgettable highlights”.

As a professional, he "fulfilled a dream", it was an "incredible adventure".

Especially at Bayern, Ribéry still enjoys hero status.

For CEO Oliver Kahn, the Frenchman is "one of the greats in the history of football - and not least of FC Bayern.

Franck was a filou on the pitch, something very special.” Honorary President Uli Hoeneß praised Ribéry as “one of the greatest players FC Bayern has ever had.

The fans have always loved his distinctive, cheeky manner on the pitch.”

Most recently, Ribéry played at US Salernitana, where he is soon to be promoted to management.

You will see him "soon at the start of a new chapter," he announced.

He was still on the pitch for the club from southern Italy in mid-August in the league game against AS Roma, where he then injured himself and had to leave the field.

“We are in the process of finalizing the final details with Franck.

It fills us with great pride that we had such a champion and a person with great charisma in the squad," explained club boss Danilo Iervolino last week: "In the future, Ribéry will have a managerial role alongside me and that of the sports director.

He will remain closely associated with the team."

Dreaded Wing Tongs "Rib & Rob"

The 81-time national player had his heyday at FC Bayern.

From 2007 to 2019, the offensive player was one of the attractions of the Bundesliga, scoring 124 goals and 182 assists in a total of 425 competitive games for the German record champions.

With Arjen Robben he formed a congenial duo and a feared wing tongs as "Rib & Rob".

Ribéry has won a total of 25 titles, including the German championship nine times and the DFB Cup six times.

The highlight of his Munich era was winning the treble in 2013 by triumphing in the Champions League final over Borussia Dortmund, where he assisted in Robben's winning goal at Wembley.

In the same year, Ribéry was voted Europe's Footballer of the Year, and in 2008 he received this honor in Germany and France.

In 2006 he reached the final of the soccer World Cup with the French national team, but had to admit defeat with the Équipe Tricolore to Italy on penalties 3:5.

At the 2010 World Cup, the French team left the group without a win.

Ribéry was the center of public criticism as deputy captain and because of his involvement in internal team squabbles.

He then announced his retirement from the national team in 2014 after he had to forego repeated participation in the World Cup due to long-term back problems.