A day that seemed like it might never come has, somewhat suddenly, arrived.

A legendary No. 10 in Liga MX, Major League Soccer and on the international stage, Mexican midfielder and Chicago Fire great Cuauhtémoc Blanco played Tuesday night in what he's said will be his final match before retirement. At the age of 42 and with 23 years of professional soccer under his belt, Blanco played the final 20 minutes for Puebla in the club's 4-2 win over Chivas de Guadalajara in the Copa MX final -- giving the inimitable Blanco a champion's goodbye.

Commonly viewed as one of the most successful Designated Player signings in MLS history, Blanco appeared in 77 matches across all competitions for the Chicago Fire between 2007 and 2009. He scored 19 goals and delivered 29 assists for the Fire, earning MLS Best XI honors in 2008 and helping lead the Men In Red to three consecutive appearances in the MLS Cup playoffs.

A veteran of three World Cups with the Mexican National Team, Blanco racked up 120 caps and scored 39 career goals for El Tri. At the club level, Blanco became a massive figure for Club America, collecting 135 goals in his tenure with Las Aguilas and bringing home multiple MVP honors.

Blanco has announced his intentions to run for political office when his playing days are over, seeking the mayoral office in the city of Cuernavaca.

Read more about Blanco's Chicago Fire tenure and brush up on his career numbers in the TrueCar Player Registry.