From CONCACAF

PANAMA CITY, Panama – On Wednesday the career of one of a CONCACAF legend came to an end with the official retirement of Felipe Baloy.

“The cycle of this footballer ends both at the national team and club level,” said Baloy in an interview with Panamanian outlet RPCTV.

“I am going to take a rest for a few days or weeks and start to prepare myself for something else,” added Baloy.

The 37-year-old Panama DF leaves behind a legacy rivaled by few in the history of the region.

At the international level, Baloy hangs up his boots having amassed an astounding 102 caps and four goals with the Panama National Team.

Baloy was named to the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup Best XI and then 12 years later helped lead Panama to its first ever FIFA World Cup berth at Russia 2018.

Baloy will forever live in Panamanian football lore for becoming his country’s first ever World Cup goal in a 6-1 defeat to England on June 24.

In total, Baloy appeared in four Gold Cups (17 matches) and 40 CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers with the Canaleros.

The mark left at the club level is equally as impressive.

In all Baloy played with 13 different clubs, including reaching the highest level of Mexican football with Monterrey, Santos Laguna, Atlas and Morelia in Liga MX.

The defender was part of Monterrey’s title-winning team during the 2009 Apertura and then achieved the same honor with Santos Laguna during the 2012 Clausura.

That success also translated to international club competition, as Baloy featured in 18 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League with Santos (2010/11, 2011/12, 2012/13), finishing as runner-up in the 2011/12 and 2012/13 editions.

“I’m not really sure what I’m going to do, but without a doubt I’m going to be involved with football,” concluded Baloy.

IMAGE: Panama´s Felipe Baloy # 23 looking for the ball against Lionel Messi of Argentina during a Copa America Centenario Match at Soldier Field, Chicago on June 10, 2016.