UPDATE - Lilian Thurman has called time on a brilliant career that saw him play for some of the biggest clubs (Monaco, Parma, Juventus and Barcelona) in the world, as well as win the World Cup Trophy in 1998 with France.

The 36 year old, who won a record 142 caps for France, is quitting following the discovery of a cardiac malformation (similar to the one that cost his brother his life on a basketball court) during a medical taken in June ahead of a prospective move to Paris St Germain.

This is one of those stories where you really hope there’s a happy ending.

36 year old Lillian Thuram was expected to announce his signing with Ligue 1’s PSG after all terms had been finalized with Barcelona for his services, but after under going the routine physical assessment that is mandatory before putting final pen to paper PSG doctors discovered the same heart condition that Thuram’s brother lost his life to.

The crazy part to think about is that Thuram had to go through the same set of battery tests before his signing with Barcelona just two years ago after leaving Italian giants Juventus and while you’d think he’d be under the microscope with the French National Team and Barcelona it just goes to show what can happen right underneath doctors noses.

While it will take more than a month to get the final results from doctors, PSG head coach Paul Le Guen has not ruled out getting Thuram’s signature if he is cleared to take the field again.

If not, I fully expect Thuram to make his move into the political field as his experience as a poor youth in Guadaloupe and the sympathetic and everyman understanding he took during the riots of 2006 angered some of the French Political big wigs, but cemented his status as a voice that spoke for many.

image via Cache