FORMER Juventus, Milan and Italy midfielder Andrea Pirlo announced his retirement from soccer Monday at the age of 38.

The World Cup winner played the final game of a glittering career and bowed out with a message to his supporters and teammates.

Pirlo thanked New York City FC fans for their support after he played the last game of his career Sunday.

The 38-year-old midfielder made a late substitute appearance as New York was eliminated from the Major League Soccer (MLS) playoffs by the Columbus Crew.

A winner of six Serie A titles, two Champions League crowns and a World Cup, the Italy legend bowed out with a special message for teammates and fans.

“Last match in MLS. As my time in NY comes to an end I would like to say a few words,” he wrote on social media Monday.

“Not only my adventure in NY comes to an end but my journey as a football player as well, that is why I would like to take the opportunity to thank my family and my children for the support and love they always give me, every team that I had the honor to play for, every teammate I have been pleased to play alongside, all the people that made my career so incredible and last but not least, all the fans around the world that always showed me support.”

Pirlo has already been linked with a move into coaching, with reports claiming he could head to Chelsea to become Antonio Conte’s assistant.

Since making his Serie A debut for hometown club Brescia at the age of 16, Pirlo has wowed audiences all over the world.

Along with the likes of Javier Zanetti, Paolo Maldini and Gianluigi Buffon, Pirlo is adored by almost everyone.

He is adored because he is so unique. Instantly recognizable — with or without his flowing locks and trademark beard — to watch L’architetto (The Architecht) effortlessly glide around the pitch, moving the ball and his teammates like a chess master and curling home stylish free kicks is pure beauty.

For purists of the game, Pirlo is everything that a footballer should be. He is slow, he is weak, he doesn’t head, tackle or sprint, but such is his genius from a technical and mental viewpoint that he is still untouchable.

“I don’t feel pressure … I don’t give a toss about it. I spent the afternoon of July 9, 2006 in Berlin sleeping and playing the PlayStation. In the evening, I went out and won the World Cup,” he famously remarked.

In the Germany World Cup, Pirlo topped the charts for assists and man-of-the-match awards. He scored their first goal of the tournament against Ghana with a rasping drive and assisted Marco Materazzi’s equalizer in the final win over France, also scoring in the victorious shootout.

In his 33rd year, he enjoyed perhaps the best individual season of his career. He was the catalyst for new club Juventus, who had been in the doldrums since the Calciopoli crisis, inspiring them to the Scudetto without losing a game before starring at Euro 2012 — where he was unplayable in the knockout victories over England and Germany.

He was named Serie A Player of the Year, retaining the honor in the next two seasons as the Bianconeri built a dynasty. Juve is currently on a six-year Serie A-winning stretch. The only true disappointment during his stint in Turin was his final game for the club in 2015 as Juve suffered a 3-1 Champions League final defeat to Barcelona in Berlin.

(SD-Agencies)