One of Argentina's finest midfielders of all times is hanging the cleats at 36. Boca Juniors and Villarreal were the clubs where he shined the brightest.

Rumor had it that Juan Román Riquelme was going to sign with Paraguayan side Cerro Porteño this Monday. Reality is that the Argentinian announced his decision of quitting the sport he loves at 36 last night.

“Today is a special day for me, I took the decision of not playing soccer anymore,” Riquelme expressed to ESPN Argentina.

The midfielder is mostly remembered for his time with Boca Juniors, the team where he started his professional career in 1996 when he was just 18. Three league titles, two “Copa Libertadores” championships and one Intercontinental Cup marked just the beginning of his career.

In 2002 he signed with Barcelona under the management of Louis van Gaal. Riquelme scored three goals in 30 league games and just two in 11 Champions League matches.

After just one year he was transferred to Villarreal for two seasons. There, the same magic that made him great with Boca was back. He helped the team finish in third place in the 2004-2005 season while being named best foreign player of the league.

One of the most bittersweet moments of his career happened in the semifinals of the Champions League in 2006 against Arsenal. In the second leg, Riquelme had the chance to take the game to extra-time from the penalty spot. The Gunners goalkeeper at the time, Jens Lehmann, saved the shot and eliminated Villarreal.

Riquelme spent the next five years back and forth between Boca Juniors and Villarreal. With Boca he got two more league titles, an Argentinian Cup, a "Copa Libertadores" and a "Recopa Sudamericana". In Spain he barely got to play.

He got to enjoy being Olympic Champion in Beijing with his national team in 2008. The year after he decided to stop representing Argentina and playing for Diego Armando Maradona.

In 2014 Riquelme joined Argentinos Juniors and helped them reclaim a spot in Argentina’s first division. Today he feels he has done enough.

“Now I am just a fan. I will go and suffer in the stadium. I am very pleased with the career I had,” Riquelme said.

WATCH: SOME OF RIQUELME'S BEST FOOTWORK

 

The club where Riquelme began his career remembers him as one of its best players

Boca Juniors was a major club in his career.

Eden Hazard also took some time to thank Riquelme for his contrinutions to the soccer world

Eden Hazard waves Riquelme goodbye

 Barcelona was the first club where Riquleme played when he went to Europe

FC Barcelona also said goodbye to Riquelme