Spanish World Cup winner Pedro announces retirement after 20-year career

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/pedro/0f1tMqQl/"]Pedro[/a], who ‌became a free agent after leaving [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/lazio/URcSl02h/"]‌Lazio[/a] when his contract expired in July, ‌was a key member of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/spain/bLyo6mco/"]Spain[/a]'s 2010 ‌World Cup-winning squad and started in the final as they beat the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/netherlands/WYintcWb/"]Netherlands[/a]. He also ‌helped Spain win Euro 2012.[/p][p]"[b]I ⁠feel it is ‌time. The time to take a step forward ​and begin a new chapter in my life[/b]," Pedro said in a ​statement on social media.[/p][p]"[b]I leave proud of having lived my dream and of ⁠all the people ​who stood by my side to make it a reality. Thank you, football, for making me so happy[/b]."[/p][embed guid="f074623b-d9de-44f1-9b4e-7b6ae710d148" url="https://x.com/_Pedro17_/status/2107779003071270980" social-type="twitter" /][p]Pedro broke into [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/barcelona/SKbpVP5K/"]Barcelona[/a]'s ‌first team in 2008 and flourished under Pep Guardiola, winning 20 major trophies with the Catalan club.[/p][p]The Tenerife-born forward scored in Barcelona's 3-1 victory over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/manchester-united/ppjDR086/"]Manchester United[/a] in the 2011 Champions League final before joining [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/chelsea/4fGZN2oK/"]Chelsea[/a] in 2015.[/p][p]He won the Premier League title in his second season ‌at Stamford Bridge and later spent a ​season at [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/as-roma/zVqqL0ma/"]AS Roma[/a] before crossing ‌the city to join Lazio, where he spent the final five years of his career.[/p][p]Pedro made 794 appearances at club level, scoring 197 goals, while he ⁠netted 17 times ⁠in 65 appearances ‌for Spain.[/p]