The Argentinian calls time on a stellar career at club and international level that included three-and-a-half years at Anfield.
Initially signed on loan by Rafael Benitez in January 2007, after a spell with West Ham United in the Premier League that had followed his emergence with River Plate and Corinthians, Mascherano made an immediate impact in a deep-lying central role.
His Reds debut came in a 4-0 home win over Sheffield United and he’d feature 11 times in total before the end of that season.
Combative, strong, skilled in possession and blessed with a relentless work-rate, he shone while helping Liverpool reach that year’s Champions League final.