Spain striker Fernando Torres bids adieu to football

Spain's World Cup-winning striker Fernando Torres has announced his retirement from football, saying that the time has come to put an end to his career after 18 exciting years.

The 35-year-old former Liverpool and Chelsea striker took to his official Twitter handle to announce the news while adding that he would hold a press conference in Tokyo on Sunday to explain all the details.

"I have something very important to announce. After 18 exciting years, the time has come to put an end to my football career. Next Sunday, the 23rd at 10:00 AM, local time in Japan, I will have a press conference in Tokyo to explain all the details.See you there," Torres wrote on Twitter along with the video. 

I have something very important to announce. After 18 exciting years, the time has come to put an end to my football career. Next Sunday, the 23rd at 10:00AM, local time in Japan, I will have a press conference in Tokyo to explain all the details.See you there. pic.twitter.com/WrKnvRTUIu — Fernando Torres (@Torres) June 21, 2019

Torres made his international debut for Spain in 2003 and went on to play 110 games for the national side, including six major tournaments. He netted the winning goal for Spain during his side's final match against Germany in the 2008 European Championship before guiding the national team to their maiden World Cup glory in  2010. 

The Spanish striker began his career with Atletico Madrid, where he appeared in 214 matches scoring 82 goals between 2001 and 2007. He then switched to Liverpool in 2011 and went on to score 81 goals in 142 games.

In 2011, Torres moved to Chelsea and won the FA Cup, the Champions League and the Europa League titles with the London club.