Nigeria's '24th Player' At 2018 World Cup Announces Retirement

Just over eight weeks after his 32nd birthday, the dream is finally over for Carl Ikeme.

There was a sense of inevitability about Ikeme's decision to call time on a career that had so much potential that was never quite fulfilled, yet that didn't make today's statement any less poignant.

Ikeme's retirement is a chilling reminder of the dark side of the footballer's dream.

The Nigeria international was diagnosed with leukaemia in July last year after returning abnormal results on a blood test taken for pre-season training.

He recently announced on social media that he was in remission and thanked friends, family and the public for their support.

"I can't risk trying to come back, my health is the main thing in all of this," Ikeme told Wolves' official website.

"It's difficult when you look at all the things you've gone through in your football career, but in the grand scheme of things, with your life in danger, it's a minimum price I have to pay to spend time with my family."