Spain legend Iker Casillas quits football

Real Madrid and Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas has retired from professional football after a glittering 22-year career.

The 39-year-old spent the last five years of his career playing for Porto after his 25-year spell with Real ended in 2015.

Casillas won the World Cup, two European Championships, five La Liga titles and three Champions League trophies during an illustrious career at the Spanish capital.

He also lifted the Supercopa de Espana four times, the UEFA Super Cup twice and the FIFA Club World Cup during his time in the Spanish capital.

After moving to Portugal at the age of 34, he won the top-flight Primeira Liga in 2018 – although he did not feature last season as Porto won the league-and-cup double.

He is the second most-capped Spain player of all time, playing in four World Cups, and holds the record for most appearances, most clean sheets and most penalty saves in Champions League history.

Casillas, who recovered from a heart attack in 2019 and declared his intention to run for the presidency of the Spanish Football Federation in February, posted an emotional message on Twitter confirming his retirement.

“The important thing is the path you travel and the people who accompany you, not the destination that it takes you,” Casillas said

“Because that with work and effort comes alone and I think I can say, without hesitation, that it has been the path and the dream destination.”