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Former Liverpool and Barcelona midfielder Javier Mascherano has announced his retirement from football at the age of 36.
Mascherano, the most capped player in Argentina’s history, made the announcement in a press conference at his current club, Estudiantes.
The Argentine moved to Anfield in 2006 and impressed under manager Rafael Benitez with his trademark, hard-tackling style of play and made 139 appearances in a successful three-year spell for Liverpool.
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Mascherano then got his wish to move to the Nou Camp, joining Barcelona for a fee in the region of £25m in 2010.
He won two Champions League titles and a pair of Club World Cup titles with Barcelona, along with five wins each in La Liga and the Copa del Rey.
He also played a pivotal role in Argentina’s 2014 World Cup campaign which saw them reach the final, but suffered extra-time defeat to Germany in Brazil.