TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Atletico Madrid midfielder Marcos Llorente has announced his retirement from the Spanish national team after leading his country to victory in the 2026 World Cup. He announced the decision on social media just weeks after Spain lifted the World Cup trophy.
"After much thought, I have decided to end my journey with the national team. This is a personal decision that I have thought through carefully, and that comes from the heart," Llorente wrote on Thursday, as quoted by ANTARA.
Llorente was part of the Spanish squad that appeared at the 2026 World Cup. He played backup to Pedro Porro at right back and started two games in the group stage.
However, his contribution diminished in the knockout stages. Llorente only got six minutes of playing time after the group stage, coming on late in the semifinal against France. Spain went on to win the World Cup.
Despite having just won the biggest trophy of his career with the national team, Llorente insisted that Spain's success in the World Cup did not influence his decision. "Regardless of whether I play in the World Cup or not, or whether we win or not, I have made my decision," he said.
Llorente also stated that he would always remember his journey with Spain, especially the 52 days during the 2026 World Cup.
Llorente ended his international career with 27 appearances over six years. He provided four assists and never scored a goal for La Roja. He made his Spain debut on November 11, 2020, in a friendly against the Netherlands, featuring for 18 minutes.
At club level, Llorente began his career with Real Madrid before moving to Atletico Madrid in 2019. He won the Champions League twice and La Liga once with Atletico.
Read: Real Madrid, Barca, Atletico Lead La Liga 2026 Transfer Window
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