Javier Mascherano announced his retirement from soccer on Sunday.

The 36-year-old is the most-capped player in Argentina national team history.

"I lived my profession 100%, to the maximum that I possibly can, and for a while now that has been getting harder. Sometimes you don't choose the end, it happens all by itself," said Mascherano.

Mascherano won 19 trophies over a eight year span at Barcelona.