Spain World Cup winner Llorente announces international retirement

Spain’s World Cup-winning midfielder Marcos Llorente has announced his retirement from international football, just three days after Argentina captain Lionel Messi revealed his decision to step away from the national team.

Llorente announced his decision in an emotional Instagram message, saying he had thought carefully before deciding to end his Spain career.

The 31-year-old acknowledged that he could have continued playing for Spain for several more years but described the decision as a personal one.

He also stressed that his retirement had nothing to do with Spain’s World Cup triumph or his participation in the tournament, saying he had made up his mind beforehand.

Spain beat Argentina 1-0 in New Jersey on July 19 to win the World Cup for the second time, ending a 16-year wait for the title. Llorente did not feature in the final but was part of the championship-winning squad. He made three appearances at the 2026 World Cup and provided one assist.

In his farewell message, Llorente thanked his teammates and supporters and said he would carry the memories of his time with the national team throughout his life. He singled out the final 52 days of Spain’s World Cup campaign, praising his teammates for fighting until the final moments to achieve their title-winning goal.

Llorente represented Spain 27 times between 2020 and 2026. Although he did not score, he provided four assists. The World Cup remained his only major international title with Spain.