Arsenal, Manchester United and Bayern Munich men are among some of the footballers around the world retiring at the end of the 2017-18 campaign.
After the conclusion of league seasons in Europe and around the world, some players have played professional football for the final time.
From the top of the Premier League to as far as Brazil and Finland, we’ve taken a look at some of the biggest names to be retiring from football now the season has drawn to a close.
Michael Carrick
“A big player is leaving, but a big man is staying,” said Jose Mourinho as he handed Carrick his training wear at the end-of-season presentation.
Carrick has taken up a role among Mourinho’s coaching staff after retiring, having undergone a procedure for an irregular heart rhythm earlier this season.
Julio Cesar
Part of the same Champions League-winning Inter Milan side as Motta, Cesar spent seven years with the Italian giants, prior to his two-year spell at QPR.
He has lifted a host of trophies across Portugal, Italy and homeland Brazil, while featuring 87 times for his country between 2004 and 2014.
Mikael Forssell
After 21 years and 10 different clubs, Finnish striker Forssell announced his retirement, having been without a club since playing for the Helsinki-based HIFK in 2017.
Forssell made 36 appearances for Chelsea and 108 for Birmingham during his time in England, also featuring for Crystal Palace and Leeds during his career.
Thiago Motta
Former Barcelona, Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid midfielder Motta has hung up his boots after six years with French champions PSG.
A glittering career has seen him lift eight league titles, two Champions Leagues and finish runner-up at Euro 2012 with Italy, and he will now move into coaching at Parc des Princes.
Stefan Kiessling
Another long-serving German, forward Kiessling joined Bayer Leverkusen in 2006 after they fought off attention from Bayern Munich and Arsenal to secure his services.
Twelve years on, he has amassed 131 goals in 344 Bundesliga appearances, but a hip problem has kept him out for much of his final season.