Ze Roberto hangs up boots at 43
RIO DE JANEIRO -- Former Real Madrid and Bayern Munich midfielder Ze Roberto has announced his retirement at the age of 43.
The veteran of two World Cups for Brazil will play his last match for Palmeiras in their Brazilian Serie A duel with Botafogo in Sao Paulo on Monday.
"Our number 11 has decided to retire. For us, he won two national titles and played in many memorable matches," Palmeiras said in a statement on their official website.
The announcement draws the curtain on a professional career that spanned 24 years.
Ze Roberto, who joined Palmeiras in 2015 from Gremio, was capped 84 times for Brazil and played in the 1998 and 2006 World Cups.