Spain's Sergio Ramos announces international retirement after 180 appearances
After a record 180 games for Spain, defender Sergio Ramos of Paris Saint-Germain and former Real Madrid has announced his retirement from international football. About two years after his final appearance on March 31, 2021, as a replacement against Kosovo, the 36-year-old, who will turn 37 in March, issued a letter on Thursday night in which he declared he would no longer be available for the Spanish national team. Ramos said that Luis de la Fuente, the new Spain coach, had talked to him and let him know that he was no longer in his plans. The National Team, our beloved and thrilling Red Shirt (the colours of Spain), must depart. I got a call this morning from the current Regardless of the level I can demonstrate or how I continue my sporting career, coach (de la Fuente) warned me that he wouldn't be relying on me "Ramos stated in his letter. Ramos was not selected by former Spain coach Luis Enrique during his tenure, which ended after Spain was eliminated from the 2022 World Cup finals, for the 2021 European Championships after the defender sustained an injury. Ramos was reportedly going to be included once more by De la Fuente, but the former Under-21 coach would rather work with players who are younger than Ramos, who would be 38 by the time the next European Championships roll around. "That marks the conclusion of a voyage I had hoped would last longer and leave them with a nicer aftertaste," said Ramos. He continued, noting that De la Fuente's decision was not "based on ability," saying, "I humbly feel that my career deserved to end due to a personal decision or because my performance was not up to what our National Team deserves, but not for a matter of age or other reasons." Throughout his lengthy international career, which started when he was 18 years old in a friendly win over China in March 2005 and had Spain's victory at the 2010 World Cup as its high point, Ramos scored 23 goals.
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