Argentine striker Gonzalo Higuain, who plays for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer (MLS), announced his retirement from professional football on Monday at 34 years old.

"The Argentine striker, Gonzalo Higuaín has announced today that he will retire and conclude his stellar career at the end of the 2022 MLS season," Inter Miami said in a statement.

"After the most wonderful career I could have had, I feel that football has given me so much," Higuain told reporters. "Many thanks to those who have always believed in me ... the time has come to say goodbye."

Higuain has played for seven clubs in his career, including four traditional powerhouses: Real Madrid, Juventus, AC Milan and Chelsea. Real witnessed his prime when he scored 121 goals and 56 assists in 264 games. He helped the Spanish giants win three La Liga championships, two Copa del Rey titles and two Supercopa de Espana championships.

Having been introduced to Napoli for 39 million euros (about $38.5 million today) in 2013, Higuain continued to be efficient in scoring to produce 91 goals and 26 assists in 146 appearances. He was landed by Juventus for 90 million euros (about $88.9 million today) in 2016. Though Higuain was on his way down and loaned twice to Milan and Chelsea in 2018 and 2019, he added three Serie A championships, three Coppa Italia titles and one UEFA Europa League championship during those four years.

Higuain was a steady member of the Argentine national team during his best years. He has played 75 games for Argentina and scored 31 goals. He competed in two editions of the FIFA World Cup, in 2010 in South Africa and in 2014 in Brazil.

"My biggest motivation is helping my teammates," Higuain said. "I think the best gift that I can give to my teammates is to be able to retire as a champion with them because they've been there with me, they've seen me during my downs this year and they've helped me throughout this path. Not only players, but physios staff, my brother, my family and this is for all of them as well."