Spanish great Sergio Busquets announces international retirement

Spain captain Sergio Busquets listens to head coach Luis Enrique after their Qatar 2022 World Cup Group E football match against Germany. Photo: Javier Soriano/AFP

Spain captain Sergio Busquets listens to head coach Luis Enrique after their Qatar 2022 World Cup Group E football match against Germany. Photo: Javier Soriano/AFP

Published Dec 16, 2022

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Barcelona — Spanish midfielder and 2010 World Cup winner Sergio Busquets announced his international retirement on Friday.

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"I would like to announce that after almost 15 years and 143 matches, the moment has arrived to bid farewell to the national team," wrote the 34-year-old Barcelona stalwart on his social media platforms.

Busquets is the last member of the 2010 team to bow out of international football — he was also part of the team that lifted the 2012 European title.

He was captain of the 2022 World Cup side that fell to a penalty shoot-out defeat to Morocco in the last-16.

Only his fellow 2010 teammates Iker Casillas (167) and Sergio Ramos (180) represented Spain more often than him.

"It has been an honour to represent my national team and help lift it higher, to being European and World champions. To have been captain and to have played so many matches with a certain level of success and always trying to do my best," Busquets wrote.

AFP