Atletico Madrid midfielder Marcos Llorente has announced his retirement from international football at the age of 31, just weeks after helping Spain win the World Cup. Llorente made the surprise announcement on social media on Thursday, bringing an end to his six-year career with the Spanish national team. The Atletico star said he had spent considerable time thinking about the decision before choosing to step away from international football.
Llorente Reflects on World Cup Triumph
Llorente was part of Spain’s squad that lifted the World Cup in July. During the tournament, he served as a backup to Tottenham defender Pedro Porro at right-back. He started two group-stage matches but saw limited playing time during the knockout rounds.
He made a brief appearance in Spain’s semi-final victory over France, featuring for six minutes as his team secured a place in the final. Llorente acknowledged that, at 31, he could potentially have several more years at international level if he maintained his form. However, he said the decision was deeply personal and one he had reached after careful consideration.
Spain Career Ends With 27 Caps
Llorente leaves the national team with 27 international appearances accumulated over six years. The midfielder admitted that some supporters may struggle to understand his decision, but insisted that he had already made up his mind regardless of whether he was selected for the World Cup or whether Spain went on to win the tournament. He said he would treasure his experiences with the national team, particularly the final 52 days spent with the World Cup-winning squad. Llorente praised his teammates for their determination and credited the group for helping Spain reach the top of world football.
Llorente’s Club Career
Llorente began his professional career at Real Madrid before making the move across the Spanish capital to Atletico Madrid in 2019. Since joining Atletico, he has established himself as an important member of the squad and has collected major honours during his career. His club achievements include two Champions League titles and a La Liga championship. His international retirement now brings the national-team chapter of his career to a close, shortly after reaching its biggest achievement with Spain.
