Batistuta hangs up his boots

ARGENTINA’S record goalscorer Gabriel Batistuta has decided to quit football at the age of 36.

“I’m announcing my definitive retirement from football and I thank everyone who has helped make my career so successful,” said the former Fiorentina and AS Roma striker.

The decision came two days after Batistuta ended his contract with Qatari club Al Arabi following an injury-plagued year in which he played only three matches and failed to score.

Batistuta, who hit 56 goals in 78 internationals, said he was planning to coach in the future.

Batistuta played in the 1994, 1998 and 2002 World Cup finals, his last international goal coming in the 1-0 win over Nigeria in the 2002 World Cup finals.