Former Real Madrid defender Marcelo has announced his retirement from professional football.

The Brazilian, on Thursday, February 6, decided to call time on his footballing career at the age of 36.

In a post on X, the Brazilian international wrote, “At 18, Real Madrid knocked on my door and I arrived here. Now, I can proudly say that I am a true Madrileno,” Marcelo said.

“My journey as a player ends here, but I still have so much to give to football. Thank you for everything.”

Marcelo will go down as one of the most decorated footballers in the history of the game.

He won five UEFA Champions League titles and six La Liga titles with Los Blancos.

Marcelo left Real Madrid in 2022 to join Olympiacos, having joined the Spanish giants in 2007.

He later rejoined his boyhood club Fluminense in 2023.