Brazil star to call it a day

Sao Paulo - Former Brazil left back Roberto Carlos says he will retire from football by the end of the year.

The 38-year-old Roberto Carlos has a contract with Russian club Anzhi until 2013 but said he will stop playing either in June or in December of 2012.

He told Brazil's GloboEsporte.com on Monday that he intends to continue "helping" the Russian club off the field after retiring.

Roberto Carlos played for Brazil until the 2006 World Cup. He helped the national team win the 2002 tournament in South Korea and Japan. He also was a starter when Brazil finished runners-up in 1998.

He thrived with Real Madrid from 1996 until 2007 and also played for Inter Milan and Fenerbahce.