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Reuters – Buenos Aires:
Javier Mascherano, Argentina’s most capped player in international football, announced his surprising retirement at the age of 36.
The announcement by Mascherano, a former midfielder for River Plate, Corinthians, Liverpool, Barcelona and several other clubs, came as a surprise after his Estudiantes club lost 1-0 to Argentinos Juniors in a league match on Sunday.
“I have done my profession 100 percent and as hard as I can, and for some time now it’s getting harder,” Mascherano told reporters. Sometimes one does not choose the end, but it happens on its own. ”
Mascherano spent his most successful spells with Barcelona, where he won 19 titles in eight years, including five La Liga titles and two Champions League titles.
Mascherano participated in 147 matches with Argentina and appeared in the World Cup four times, and won two gold medals with his country’s Olympic team in 2004 and 2008.
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