*Inter legend Javier Zanetti played his final game at the San Siro on Saturday

*Zanetti came on as a 52nd substitute for right-back Jonathan vs Lazio

*Tributes before, during and after the match poured in for the 40-year-old defender

*Pitch invader runs on to embrace Zanetti then player ushers him off

* A Rodrigo Palacio brace and goals from Mauro Icardi and Hernanes saw Inter win 4-1

* Giuseppe Biava gave the visitors an early lead

Javier Zanetti marked his final Inter Milan appearance at the San Siro on a high as they beat Lazio 4-1 on Saturday.

The 40-year-old, who will retire at the end of season, replaced Brazilian right-back Jonathan in the 52nd minute to a rapturous applause from the Inter supporters.

Tributes to Zanetti were evident throughout the game. The Nerazzuri legend came on to Europe’s ‘Final Countdown’ during the second-half as he wore a commemorative armband sporting every Inter Milan player’s name that he had ever played with.

In addition, his teammates wore jackets bearing his number and after the match the defender was treated to a montage of his career as the home fans gave him a standing ovation during his farewell presentation.

In his 863rd appeareance for the San Siro outfit the former Argentina international ended the match on the winning side as a first-half brace from Rodrigo Palacio and a Mauro Icardi strike cancelled out Lazio’s opener scored by Giuseppe Biava.

Brazil international Hernanes completed the rout against his former club late in the second-half as Inter stengthened their grip on qualification for the Europa League next season.

The emotion of the occasion was too much for one Inter fan who ran onto the pitch during injury time to hug the defender, who returned the favour whilst ushering to the side off the pitch.

On Friday, the Italian outfit confirmed Zanetti’s retirement after 19 trophy-laden years with the club – who will now become the club’s sporting director from next season.

Since his transfer from Argentina side Banfield in 1995, his hounours include five Serie A titles, four Coppa Italias, one Champions League, one UEFA Cup and one FIFA Club World Cup.

As well as an impressive club career, Zanetti enjoyed a successful international one with Argentina as he is his country’s most capped player, with his 145th cap coming in 2011.

—Daily Mail