The Barcelona forward Sergio Aguero announced his decision to retire in a statement on Wednesday that was delivered at an event featuring president Joan Laporta and the club's first-team players.
The Manchester City record goalscorer, who moved to Barcelona on a free transfer in the summer, had to be substituted during his team's 1-1 draw with Alaves in October after receiving medical assistance on the pitch to treat chest pains and dizziness.
Aguero, who starred for Atletico Madrid before becoming a Manchester City great, suffered chest pain in the draw with Deportivo Alaves on October 30, which the club confirmed was down to a heart arrhythmia. Sergi Barjuan, interim coach at the time, said Aguero told him he was feeling "a little dizzy".
Further tests resulted in Aguero being ruled out for three months to undergo a "diagnostic and therapeutic process". However, after consultations with specialists, the Argentina international has been told it is too much of a risk to continue playing.
Posting on Twitter, Aguero added: “Retiring under these circumstances is difficult, but life comes first – I’ve known that from the start.”
Aguero started his career at Argentinian club Independiente, scoring 23 goals between 2003-2006 before moving to Atletico Madrid.
He had a successful period with the Spanish team, scoring 101 times in 234 appearances in all competitions and won the Europa League with the club in 2010 in addition to the UEFA Super Cup.
City signed Aguero from Atletico in 2011 and he made his mark in club history when he scored a spectacular late-game goal against QPR in the last game of the 2011/12 season to secure the first Premier League title of the team.
Aguero stayed at City for 10 seasons and broke Eric Brook’s record to become the club’s all-time top scorer in 2017.