Real Madrid and Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas has announced his retirement from professional football after playing over 1,000 matches.
The 39-year-old, who holds the record for most Champions League clean sheets and most clean sheets for Spain, spent the last five years of his career playing for Porto after his 25-year spell with Real ended in 2015.
Casillas, who recovered from a heart attack in 2019 and declared his intention to run for the presidency of the Spanish Football Federation in February, posted an emotional message on Twitter confirming his retirement.
"The important thing is the path you travel and the people who accompany you, not the destination that it takes you," Casillas said
"Because that with work and effort comes alone and I think I can say, without hesitation, that it has been the path and the dream destination."
Real captain Sergio Ramos reacted to the news by posting: "Soccer thanks you, friend. Forever a legend @IkerCasillas."
Lo importante es el camino que recorres y la gente que te acompaña, no el destino al que te lleva, porque eso con trabajo y esfuerzo, llega solo y creo que puedo decir, sin dudar, que ha sido el camino y el destino soñado #Grac1as pic.twitter.com/xb8ucs9REh
— Iker Casillas (@IkerCasillas) August 4, 2020