Rafinha made his senior debut for Barcelona in November 2011 and spent over a decade at the club before moving on to PSG after a series of loan spells.
The Brazilian posted a video on his social media accounts this week as he hangs up his boots at the age of 32. The video also had an emotional caption as he waved goodbye to the beautiful game.
“After some time away from the pitch and following a long recovery, the time has come to make something important public. I have made the decision to retire.
“A little over a year ago, I suffered a knee injury which, unfortunately, prevents me from returning to compete at the highest level. It was hard to accept that I couldn’t continue. Thank you to my family for always being there, to everyone for the love and support. Thank you, football, for making me who I am. Goodbye.”
Barcelona also sent a message to Rafinha after his announcement, posting on XI: “Thank you for your football and for defending these colors with pride and commitment. Good luck in this new stage, Rafinha.”
“Thank you and good luck, Rafinha!”
Rafinha had loan spells at Inter Milan and Celta Vigo, but injuries weighed him down which ultimately led to his latest decision.