Thuram announces retirement from game

Former France defender Lilian Thuram has announced his retirement from football.

The 36-year-old, who won a national-record 142 caps for Les Bleus, is quitting following the discovery of a cardiac malformation during a medical taken in June ahead of a prospective move to Paris St Germain.

Having been given the results of a second round of tests a month on, Thuram has chosen to hang up his boots.

He announced his decision at a hastily-convened press conference at the Parc des Princes on Friday.

The heart problem that medical tests detected in June is similar to the one that led to his brother collapsing and dying on a basketball court.

Other members of his family have also suffered from the condition.

Thuram will go down as one of France's greatest players.

He began his career at Monaco in 1990 before moving to Italy in 1996 to play for Parma and then Juventus.

He joined Spanish club Barcelona in 2006 and was ready to pen a one-year deal with PSG, with the option of a further 12 months, before his heart condition was detected.

Thuram won the World Cup with France in 1998, and then the European Championships two years later.

His last appearance for Les Bleus came six weeks ago, in France's 4-1 defeat to Holland in Euro 2008.

Following France's early elimination from the tournament, he chose to retire from international football for the second time - after doing so previously in 2004.