Ivory Coast football legend Didier Drogba announces retirement

Ivorian great Didier Drogba announced on Wednesday he is hanging up his boots after a prolific 20-year career.

The 40-year-old, the all-time top scorer for the Ivory Coast and the highest foreign scorer for Chelsea, on Wednesday posted a picture of himself as a young player before announcing his retirement.

"When I think of the last 20 years of my professional career, looking at this picture can't make me more proud of what I've achieved as a player but most importantly how this journey has shaped me as a man," Drogba wrote.

During two spells at Chelsea, the striker scored 164 goals in 381 games and won four Premier League titles and the 2012 Champions League. He also earned 104 caps and scored 65 goals for his national team.

Drogba spent the last 18 months of his playing career with US side Phoenix Rising, the club he co-owns, his last game being a 1-0 defeat by Louisville City in the final of the United Soccer League Cup.

"Safe to say [Drogba] will not be playing for us next week," the team said on Twitter responding to reports of the retirement.