New York City FC may have recorded a 2-0 victory over Columbus Crew last night, but it wasn't enough to both further advance the team from the Big Apple in the MLS play-offs and extend the career of the maestro, Andrea Pirlo.
The Italian midfield metronome bowed out from making the beautiful game even more beautiful at the age of 38-years-old last night, as NYCFC succumbed to a 4-3 aggregate defeat to Columbus Crew.
The former Juventus and AC Milan icon had announced last month that the end of the MLS season would mark the end of his career and so it has been confirmed, today, with the great man himself releasing an official statement on his Twitter account, this afternoon:
Advert
With two Champions Leagues and a World Cup under his belt, alongside six Serie A titles and two Coppa Italias, Pirlo will go down in history as one of the greatest midfielders of not only a generation, but of all time.
Advert
Advert
For every through ball, every luxurious cross field pass, every free-kick, the owning of Joe Hart's soul via Panenka and the countless enigmatic photoshoots including that time I bumped into you near Chelsea Market in New York and you stopped for a picture, grazie Andrea. You beautiful, gorgeous, beautiful man.
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Football News, Football, Andrea Pirlo, Italy