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Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson - one of the leagues best players - has officially retired today. Our sportswriter Alex Ferguson, writing from the USA, looks at Johnsons history and says goodbye to a legend…. The strangest thing about Calvin Johnson, when you reflect on his career and his heroics, is the fact that he wasnt widely-recruited in high school, and wasnt even listed in the top 100 of high school players.Only Georgia Tech, Georgia, Miami and Notre Dame vied for his signature, with Tech winning out. Despite awful quarterback play, he became one of the most untouchable wide receivers that college football had even seen. And while it was clear from the outset that Johnson would be great, he only seriously flourished in his third year, where he won the award for the best wide receiver, several conference awards, and was a consensus pick to the All-American team - college footballs equivalent of a Pro Bowl. He had 76 receptions, 1,202 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns, and left Georgia Tech with several school records under his belt and the promise of millions.And they arrived, when Detroit picked Johnson as the second pick in the 2004 Draft. JaMarcus Russell was picked first. I wonder who had the better NFL career…. With Calvin Johnson retiring have a look back at the top ten plays of his career. Courtesy of NFL Network The careerJohnson wasnt a dominant receiver…until his second year. In his first, he had 48 receptions for a tidy 756 yards (15.8 yards/game) and 4 TDs, making Jon Kitna looking like a somewhat relevant quarterback. And thanks to the fact that he could go up and get any ball thrown to him, he was given the nickname Megatron by his teammate Roy Williams. He should have been given the name Makes Us Look Better too, but I dont think that one would have stuck…He then led the league in receiving touchdowns, was fourth in receptions, and had his first 1,000 yard receiving season (1,331) - despite having no constant quarterback throwing to him (the Lions went through three that season). Johnson leaves the NFL as one of its greatest ever players Johnson struggled in production in 2009 as new QB Matt Stafford found his feet, other players and problems with his knees, and the Lions had to replace him with Daunte Culpepper and Drew Stanton. You cant help but thinking it was more poor quarterback play than Johnson heroics.But by the turn of the decade, Johnson was one of the best wide receivers in the league - if not the best.From 2010 to 2015, he went to five straight Pro Bowls. He had five straight 1000+ receiving yard seasons, which included a stunning 1,964 season in 2012 - which broke the record for all-time receiving yards in a season, smashing Jerry Rices record of 1,848 which had held up for 17 years (by the way, he had 1,681 in 2011 which was seventh on the all-time list at the time).Hell retire with 67 touchdowns in 104 games, and plenty of other inclusions on all-time career top 25 lists. He probably could have broken more records or made more lists, but that would have had to be with a better offensive line and frankly, a better quarterback. And another good wide receiver to take attention away from him (which the Lions rarely seemed to want to sign). Megatron retires The full story as Calvin Johnson calls time on his NFL career ESPN in the USA remarked that he probably wont go in a first ballot Hall of Famer. In my view, why shouldnt he? There hasnt been a better wide receiver in years.The sadnessJohnson had already said in January that he was thinking about retirement - or a move.Im happy for him that he decided to retire as a Detroit Lion, following on from the great Barry Sanders, who also retired in his prime. I dont like the thought that Johnson would play for another team.Johnson didnt even go for a huge press conference. He just put out a release, apologised for not having a press conference (showing the kind of grace and humility it seems no NFL wide receiver has right now), thanked God and the Lions owners, and apologised again for not bringing the Motor City a Super Bowl victory. Even though it was far from being his fault. Johnson never played in a Super Bowl but left plenty or memories and records Like Marshawn Lynch, he didnt leave the league with his body a broken mess - unlike Peyton Manning, who retired a day before.But unlike Manning, who we saw in plenty of Super Bowls, we never got to see Johnson play in one. It would have been fun to see him make cornerbacks and safeties look exceptionally stupid on the biggest stage.But after seeing him as a college and pro player, Im thankful that I saw Calvin Johnson.But like Peyton Manning and Marshawn Lynch, the game of American Football will be all the poorer without him.Have your say on Megatron below. A future Hall of Famer, surely? One the greatest ever? Fill in the form below and let us know what you think and who else would figure in an all-time wide receivers list.Also See:Johnson retiresFree agency updates LIVE!WATCH: Best of MegatronQuarterbacks on the move?Paul DeJong Jersey . 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"This record is incredible," Bayern coach Pep Guardiola said.YOKOHAMA, Japan -- Real Madrid arrived in Japan and went straight to work.Madrid arrived in Tokyo on Monday at 5 a.m. and was greeted by about 300 Japanese fans at Haneda airport before boarding a team bus. The Spanish club held a light training session in the evening and has a couple of days to overcome jet lag before Thursdays Club World Cup semifinal match against Mexican team Club America.We arrived well. We are mentally well and happy to be here, Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said. Today we will be resting and tomorrow we will see what we will do.Madrid set a club record after a 35th consecutive match without a loss by beating Deportivo La Coruna 3-2 on Saturday.Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Luka Modric did not play Saturday. Gareth Bale is recovering from a foot injury.European teams have been the most successful in the tournament, with eight titles.Zindane said he has been looking into Club America and expects to do more in the next several days.We have already studied our rival, Zidane said. I saw Club Amerrica in their most recent game and a few cup games.dddddddddddd We will do some more research about them in the next few days.Madrid hasnt lost since April at Wolfsburg in the quarterfinals of last seasons Champions League. They return to the Club World Cup with 13 of the players who won the title in 2014, when they beat San Lorenzo in the final.Winning the Club World Cup could launch Real Madrid to a unique quadruple title haul.Madrid has a shot at becoming the first team to win the Champions League, Spanish league, Copa del Rey and the Club World Cup in the same season. 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