dpa
Berlin
Spain’s third-highest appearance maker Sergio Busquets has announced his retirement from international football.
The 34-year-old captained Spain in each of their four games at the World Cup in Qatar, missing a penalty in the shootout as Luis Enrique’s side were knocked out by Morocco at the last-16 stage.
Busquets made his debut for La Roja against Turkey in April 2009 and went on to make 143 appearances, behind only Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos in the country’s history.
The Barcelona midfielder, who scored two international goals, was an integral part of the Spain squads that won the World Cup in 2010 and the European Championship two years later.
“I would like to thank all the people who have accompanied me on this long journey,” he wrote on Instagram. “From Vicente del Bosque who gave me the opportunity to start, to Luis Enrique for making me enjoy it until the last second.
“I also thank Julen Lopetegui, Fernando Hierro and Robert Moreno for their trust, as well as all their staff.
“And, of course, to each and every one of my team-mates, with whom I have struggled to try to take the team where it deserved, with more or less success but always giving everything and with the greatest of pride.
“It has been an honour to represent my country and take it to the top.
“To be a World and European champion, to be captain and to play so many games, with greater or lesser success but always giving everything and contributing my grain of sand so that everything went the right way.”
