World Cup Winner Fernando Torres Announces His Retirement from Football

FIFA World Cup-winning striker Fernando Torres on Friday announced his plans to retire from football. 

The 35-year-old is playing for Sagan Tosu in Japan and tweeted that a press conference will be held in Tokyo on Sunday to clarify his future:

Former Liverpool and Chelsea frontman Torres started his career with Atletico Madrid. He spent six years in the club's academy and another six years in their senior side before earning his first major transfer when moving to Liverpool in 2007.

He scored 81 times in 142 appearances for Liverpool, the most prolific strike rate he's held at any club.

Torres won the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League during a four-year stint with Chelsea and continued to break records despite a rocky stay at Stamford Bridge:

The veteran forward later joined AC Milan and returned to Atletico in 2015 after eight years away from his boyhood club, enjoying a slight renaissance before leaving for the J1 League in 2018.

Torres' stay in Japan hasn't been as successful as many might have expected—he's scored four times in 32 appearances for Sagan Tosu—who are bottom of the J1 League—and is contracted to the club until January 2020.

Liverpool remembered their servant of four years at his best for the Reds despite never winning a major trophy with the club:

Chelsea also paid tribute to their former star and celebrated his goal against Barcelona in the semi-finals of the 2011-12 UEFA Champions League:

The Blues later went on to beat Bayern Munich on penalties in that season's final to lift their only Champions League crown to date.

Torres and David Villa—now playing alongside Andres Iniesta with Japanese outfit Vissel Kobe—formed a devastating strike partnership for Spain at their peak and were crucial throughout the nation's gilded run between 2008 and 2012.

The former Atleti man scored the only goal against Germany in the UEFA Euro 2008 final, arguably the most important strike of his career:

Torres won trophies in Spain and England but will perhaps be best remembered for his exploits with Spain's national team after winning three of the six major tournaments he appeared in.