PARIS (AFP) - France's former World Cup winner Lilian Thuram, who has been diagnosed with a heart defect, announced his retirement from football on Friday.

The 36-year-old former Monaco, Parma, Juventus and Barcelona defender was a key member of the French teams that won the World Cup in 1998 and the European championships two years later, and holds his country's appearance record of 142 matches.

Thuram, without a club, had been expected to join French first division side Paris Saint Germain in June but his medical had shown up a heart defect which ruled out him signing a one-year contract.

Thuram said it was true that he had a medical problem but added there were other reasons for his retirement. "There are family reasons which have also been taken into account," he said. "I wanted to be the (Paolo) Maldini of PSG but that has not been possible. It's sad to end a career like this."