Topics: NASL, Raul Gonzalez Blanco, New York Cosmos, Champion, United States, Real Madrid
Raúl gave the assist for the game-winning goal. Marcos Senna also retired in the same game playing for the same team.

39-year old Raúl Gonzalez Blanco wrote the last page of his book as a professional soccer player and it had a great ending to it. The former Spain and Real Madrid captain was able to add one last trophy to his cabinet with the title that the NY Cosmos won on Sunday night against Ottawa Fury 3-2.

While the Spanish striker was not the man of the match, nor did he score a single goal, he was the man of the night as he played one last time, just as he had promised earlier this season. Raúl wrapped up his first and only season in the United States with a title that adds to his legacy as a champion on and off the field.

From 16 years as a professional with Real Madrid, after belonging to the same club in his youth academy years, he went on to play for Schalke 04 in Germany from 2010 to 2012. Then Raúl transfered to Al-Sadd and finished making the trip the United States at the end of 2014.

Six La Liga titles with Real Madrid, three Champions League titles and four Spanish Cup championships are just some of his accomplisments with Los Blancos. Before heading into the playoffs of the NASL with the Cosmos, Raúl said that whatever happened, this would be his last season as a professional soccer player.

He was still able to play the full 90 minutes despite his age

During the game, the night belonged to an Argentinian player called Gastón Cellerino who scored all of the three goals for the team from the Big Apple. Raúl was in charge of the assist for the game-winning goal in the 85th minute. One week before, he had been the one that scored the goal that got NY Cosmost to the final.

Raúl now retires with a total of 448 career goals since his professional debut in 1994.This season, he played in 30 games with the NY Cosmos and was part of a historic match between his team and the Cuban National Team in Havana, Cuba earlier this year. 

"He’s just a clever player. Sometimes you don’t see him in some areas and then he appears in others. He’s very influential in the game,” his coach Giovanni Savarese said. 

The celebrations couldn't wait

At the end of the game, the Spanish legend was lifted by his teammates one last time. They all thanked Raúl for his contributions to the team and wished him the best moving forward. For Raúl, there were mixed feelings about stepping off the field one last time.

He came into the world of soccer as a player but leaves as a legend

“Today was my last game to finish my career, and I’m very proud of everything I did,” Raúl said. “I’ve lived very special moments. It would be an injustice to just name one because they were all so special."

He made history with every club, specially with RM