BRASILIA, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Cafu, captain of the 2002 World Cup winning Brazilian team, announced on Friday that he's leaving AC Milan and on way back to Brazil.

    "It is time for me to go. It is sad and hard to leave, but I knew that one day it would have to happen and I'll return to my home country of Brazil," he said.

    "I am still unsure if I will continue to play or to retire," said the 37-year-old, a record holder of games played for the Brazilian national team.

    Cafu has played in Italy since 1997 when he left the Brazilian team of Palmeiras to play for Roma and help the team win the Serie A title in 2001.

    After five years at Roma, he was traded to Milan and came part of the squad winning the Italian top flight championship in 2004 as well as the Champions League title.

    In 2007, he accompanied the Milan team to win the World Club Championship.

    The team is to be against Udinese on Sunday in the Serie A.

    "Sunday will be my last game with the team. I don't know if I will be a starter or even if the coach will put me in the game, but I will be ready," said the defender who has not been a starter for Milan over the last two seasons.