FC Barcelona striker Sergio Aguero announced his retirement from professional football on Wednesday at an emotional press conference at the Camp Nou Stadium.

The 33-year-old was accompanied by club president Joan Laporta, while Barca coach Xavi Hernandez and Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola were also in the stands as he drew the curtain on his 18-year career due to a heart complaint.

"This conference is to communicate that I have decided to stop playing football," said Aguero.

"It's a very difficult moment, but decision that I have taken for my health, because of the problem that I had a month and a half ago."

Aguero has not played since suffering an arrythmia in Barca's game at home to Alaves on October 30. That saw him taken to hospital, while the club explained that he would be out of action for at least three months while the necessary tests were carried out to see whether he would be able to continue playing.

"I was in the good hands of the medical staff who have done their best and have told me that the best thing would be to stop playing. So, 10 days ago I made that decision. I want to tell everyone that I did everything possible to have some hope but there wasn't very much," explained the forward, who said he was leaving with his "head held high."

The Argentinian began his career in his homeland with Independiente, making his first appearance aged just 15 years and 32 days.

He joined Atletico Madrid in 2006, where 102 goals in 234 appearances led Manchester City to buy him in 2011, and his dramatic goal in the last minute of the last game of that season gave the club its first Premier League title.

Aguero scored 184 league goals in 275 appearances for Manchester City, a record for a player at one Premier League club.

Last season saw his campaign affected by injury, and when it was clear his contract would not be renewed, Aguero moved to Barcelona, but now retires after just five appearances in which he scored one goal, which was against Real Madrid.

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