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.

He said: "I want to announce that today I am retiring from soccer professionally.

"I want to thank this club that gave me the opportunity to finish my career in Argentina.

"I lived my profession 100%, to the maximum that I possibly can, and for a while now that has been getting harder.

"Sometimes you don't choose the end, it happens all by itself."