Why did Nani keep playing into his late 30s?

Nani's legacy is underrated

He won 17 trophies, while playing 730 matches in eight different countries.

He says part of the reason for his longevity is the model he saw during his time in the Manchester United dressing room.

"I had a lot of inspiration from other players; Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Rio Ferdinand," he said. "They kept playing until they were old, which was motivation. I didn't care if people said I wasn't the same player.

"I could have played even longer, for several more years because I didn't have injuries. I thank god for my genetics and health. I still play football - I show up to friendly games with non-professional people and they are shocked but I have fun and enjoy with my friends and family. I like to show I can still match the kids."

"I just made the decision to stop. It's a new generation and it's not the same. The mentality of this new generation is not the same. I appreciated the club from my city a lot."

Nani was also a key part of the Portugal team that won the European Championship in 2016, captaining his side after Cristiano Ronaldo got injured in the final against France. That result ranks as the country's greatest achievement in international men's football.

All of the starters in Paris have continued playing football, with former Real Madrid defender Pepe the first to retire, aged 41.

According to Nani, who is just the second of that side to leave the sport, the professionalism and work ethic of talisman Cristiano Ronaldo rubbed off on his team-mates.

"Cristiano is a big, big example," he added. "In the last few years, he was motivating everyone to continue to play because he's a player who is doing great for so many years. So you then continue to motivate yourself.

"I always knew that he would play until he can't play anymore because he has a lot of ambition and love. We have a group where we send each other messages and enjoy each other's achievements."