RIO DE JANEIRO, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- Former Brazil international midfielder Renato Augusto announced his retirement from football on Thursday after a professional career spanning two decades.

The 37-year-old had struggled with injuries in recent years and had not played since parting ways with Fluminense in May.

"The moment has really come to say goodbye," he told Brazil's Globo Esporte. "It's time to turn to the other side of life, give more attention to my children, go back to being a full-time dad, go back to being a full-time husband. The time has come to hang up my boots," he added.

In addition to Fluminense, Renato's career included spells at Flamengo, Corinthians, Bayer Leverkusen and Beijing Guoan.

The playmaker was capped 33 times for his country and was part of the Brazil squad that reached the quarterfinals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. ■