Hasta luego: Mario Yepes announces retirement from football

Mario Yepes, one of Colombian football's greatest-ever products, is hanging up his cleats once and for all.

On Wednesday, Yepes announced his retirement from football, as the Twitter account for Colombia's national team published a tweet confirming the 40-year-old's decision.

Yepes last took the pitch in November when he featured at San Lorenzo, but his career at the club level will largely be remembered for the European giants who he represented following the turn of the millennium.

After kicking off his career at Colombian clubs Cortulua and Deportivo Cali, Yepes went on to travel across Europe, pulling on the shirt of FC Nantes from 2001 to 2004, Paris Saint-Germain from 2004 to 2008, Chievo Verona from 2008 to 2010, and AC Milan from 2011 to 2013.

At the international level, Yepes and his long hair were a staple of Colombia's defence between 1999 and the 2014 World Cup, where he finally appeared on football's most prestigious stage, making four appearances as Los Cafeteros reached the quarterfinals in what was their best-ever showing at the competition.

Among those who were first to react to news of Yepes' retirement was David Ospina, who took to Twitter and wrote: "It was a pleasure being able to take the pitch with you and I wish you the best with your new projects, friend."

Radamel Falcao also took to Twitter to wish Yepes the best, writing: "Yepes: many blessings in this new stage."