Sergio Busquets, the World Cup champion and captain of Spain, has declared his retirement from international football.
The 34-year-old midfielder led the team that was eliminated in the round of 16 this year and won the 2010 World Cup and 2012 European Championship.
“After almost 15 years and 143 matches, the moment has arrived to bid farewell to the national team,” he wrote on social media.
“It has been an honour to represent my national team and help lift it higher.”
Along with Andres Iniesta and Xavi, Busquets is the final member of the renowned Barcelona Spanish midfield trio to declare his retirement from international competition.
In a World Cup qualifying match against Turkey on April 1, 2009, he made his debut for Spain. He then played in four World Cups and three European Championships.
His whole playing career has been spent with Barcelona, where he has appeared for them nearly 700 times and won numerous awards, including eight La Liga championships and three Champions Leagues.