Former Arsenal midfielder Gilberto Silva has confirmed his retirement.

Gilberto, 39, had been without a club since leaving Atletico Mineiro in 2013.

He told a news conference: "As of today, I have ended my career as an athlete. It's a difficult decision.

"Worldwide, we do not ask to be born. When we are born, we do not want to die. I've heard a phrase that says footballers die twice. I disagree. I think the football player dies once, and makes a transition from the field to a new stage. For me,...

SAO PAULO -- Corinthians increased their lead atop Brazil's first division with a 3-1 victory Sunday at Figueirense.

The win, coupled with second-place Atletico Mineiro's 2-2 draw at Joinville, gave the Sao Paulo giants a seven-point margin with 10 rounds to play.

Recent Brazilian national team call-ups Gil, Elias and Renato Augusto scored for Corinthians, and Leonardo Silva got the only goal for Figueirense.

Before only 7,500 at Joinville, Thiago Ribeiro and Luan scored for Atletico Mineiro, with...

A competition meant to be the precursor to a Brazilian Premier League has been officially formed after a meeting by member clubs in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday.

The statute for the "Liga Sul-Minas-Rio," a regional tournament consisting of clubs from five states in Brazil's south, was signed by its 13 founding members -- Flamengo and Fluminense of Rio, Internacional and Gremio of Rio Grande do Sul, Atletico-MG and Cruzeiro of Minas Gerais, Coritiba and Atletico-PR of Parana, and Joinville, Chapacoense,...