(CNN) -- Paolo Maldini's announcement following AC Milan's 4-2 win over Boca Juniors in the FIFA Club World Cup final in Japan that he plans to retire at the end of season provided a neat symmetry to the legendary Italian's staggering career.
Paolo Maldini made his AC Milan debut as a 16-year-old in 1985.
Now 39, Maldini was just coming into his prime when he previously won back-to-back editions of the tournament's predecessor, the Intercontinental Cup, in 1989 and 1990.
Incredibly, Maldini already had three complete seasons under his belt by the time he won the first of those titles, having made his debut for the Rossineri as a 16-year-old in 1985.
As a young defender, Maldini was part of arguably Milan's greatest ever side -- featuring the Dutch trio of Ruud Gullit, Marco Van Basten and Frank Rijkaard and Franco Baresi -- which had destroyed Steaua Bucharest 4-0 in the 1989 European Cup final and retained the title a year later with a 1-0 win over Benfica.
Maldini would go on to eclipse the achievements of his teammates as one of the greatest defenders the game has ever known, lifting the European Cup on three more occasions -- in 1994, 2003 and 2007 -- and playing in a record eight finals. He has also won seven Serie A titles and is Italy's most capped player, making 126 appearances for his country.
In an era in which player loyalty is usually bought with six-figure weekly wages, Maldini seems to belong to another age, playing out his entire career in the red and white shirt of Milan or the blue of Italy.
Maldini's biggest disappointments came at international level. In 1994 he was part of the Italian team beaten on penalties by Brazil in the World Cup final. Four years earlier he had suffered the pain of Italy's semifinal exit on home soil. And in 2000 Italy were agonizingly beaten by France's last minute extra time goal in the European Championship final.
But Maldini insisted he would retire without regrets. "Today I truly feel satisfied with what I have achieved," he said. "I've done everything possible during my football career. It's wonderful because it's difficult to reach 39 years old at a great club such as Milan, a club that has always given me the possibility to play for important trophies."
With more than 600 league matches for Milan under his belt, Maldini holds a record for Serie A appearances that is unlikely to be beaten. And though he admits the pain of playing is starting to outweigh his enjoyment of the game, Maldini insisted he would see his contract with Milan through until the end of the season -- when the club will retire his No. 3 shirt for good.
Struggling in mid-table this season -- and facing a derby clash with table-topping city rivals Inter Milan this weekend -- an eighth Italian title looks set to prove elusive.
But, given Milan's recent habit of saving their best form for the Champions League, few would back against Maldini making a farewell ninth appearance come the final in Moscow next May. E-mail to a friend
