Sergio Aguero announces retirement from football due to heart ailment

Argentine striker Sergio 'Kun' Aguero has announced his retirement from football due to a heart condition. The 33-year-old, who joined Barcelona in the summer, brought his prolific career to an end at a press conference today at Barcelona.

Aguero suffered cardiac arrhythmia during a league match against Alaves in October and had to be taken off after complaining of chest pain and dizziness.

That would turn out to be his last professional football match as doctors initially ruled him out for three months before advising him in November that he call time on his career.

“It is a very difficult moment. The decision I have made I have taken for my health, that is the main reason, because of the problem that I had a month-and-a-half ago,” said Aguero.

“So I made that decision about a week ago and I want to tell everyone I did everything possible to have hope, but there wasn't very much.”

Aguero played 101 matches for the Argentine national team, scoring 41 goals and reaching the final of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. This year, he won the Copa America with his country.

But the striker will be remembered most for his exploits with English side Manchester City, where he played for 10 years (2011-21). He scored 260 goals in 390 appearances for City, winning the Premier League five times. He is the highest non-English scorer in the competition's history and holds the record for the most EPL hat-tricks with 12.

This year, he left Manchester on a free transfer to join Barcelona, where his close friend Lionel Messi played. Unfortunately, the two would not get to play together as Messi would leave for Paris St Germain.

His short stint at Barcelona was marred by injuries, and so Aguero played only five matches, scoring one goal.