Portuguese former Bundesliga star Sergio Pinto has announced his retirement from football, because he can no longer chew properly after fracturing his jaw twice in the space of six months.

Having broken his jaw in October 2014 and then again in April 2015, on what proved to be his last appearance, Pinto has called time on his career as he can no longer eat properly.

"Eating normal food is no longer possible," the 35-year-old winger, who made 211 Bundesliga appearances, scoring 21 goals for Schalke 04, Hanover 96 and Alemannia Aachen, told German daily Bild.

"I can't bite into hard foods, like an apple, any more.

"Sometimes, I don't even have the strength to chew, but there is no point going around crying about it."

Pinto has decided an operation to repair his jaw is too risky and has not sought a renewal of his contract at second-division Fortuna Duesseldorf, which expired at the end of the season.

Having spent the 2013-14 season with Levante playing in Spain, Pinto returned to Germany and spent the last two seasons at Fortuna, for whom he made his last appearance in April 2015, when he broke his jaw for a second time.

"I'd have liked to have decided for myself when to stop," said Portugal-born Pinto, who moved to Germany with his family when he was 12.

"I'd have liked to have said goodbye on the pitch, but that wasn't possible anymore, which one has to accept," he added.